Golf Coach’s Prediction Looks Good

After nearly getting himself in trouble at last year’s NAIA golf championships by making outlandish statements, Mike Wydra probably should have learned his lesson, one might think.

Wydra, UC San Diego’s golf coach, told anybody who would listen that his team would finish in the top five at the nationals and break 300. He said this with his team mired in eighth place after two rounds, having shot 308 and 321.

Somehow, the Tritons finished fourth after shooting 298 and 301 the final two days.

“I’m a pretty shrewd judge of golfing talent as it turns out,” Wydra said.

Even before this season began, Wydra put his reputation on the line again with this year’s team. Wydra predicted the Tritons would be better this year than last despite losing two All-Americans.

His prediction is looking good so far. The Tritons are off to their best start, 9-0. Not even Wydra could have imagined that.

UCSD is playing without its top player, Dale Abraham, who is out with a knee injury. Jeremy Moe, a junior from Salinas, has filled in by playing the best golf of his career.

Pete Roberts, a freshman from Eureka, had been playing No. 1 but his putting game has suddenly fallen apart.

“I changed his putting stroke,” Wydra said jokingly. “He hates me right now. He’s really struggling now. But he’ll be back by May.”

The Tritons are ranked ninth in NAIA polls, but Wydra doesn’t believe the rankings.

“We belong in the top three,” he said. “We’re better than any of those other teams between three and eight.”

Knowing Wydra, he’ll probably have his Tritons go out and prove it.

UCSD plays host to the 39th Southern California Intercollegiate tournament at Torrey Pines on Friday and Saturday.

Unbeaten streak still going: The Point Loma Nazarene softball team, 4-0 this season, has not lost a game since 1984. They haven’t fielded a collegiate team since then, but who’s counting? In addition to the seven years off, three rainouts of double headers have helped keep them unbeaten.

The school had a club team last year and Russ Blunck, PLNC sports information director, said there was enough interest to compete this season at a varsity level.

Robin Rabello, a second-team NAIA All-American in volleyball and a member of the basketball team, is a pitcher and catcher.

Beginners luck? In his first meet after transferring from Brigham Young, Per Karlsson set a school record in the hammer throw with a toss of 230-4, almost 20 feet more than the old record.

Karlsson, a native of Vaxjo, Sweden, is ranked third in the U.S. by Track and Field News with a toss of 69- 3/4 in the 35-pound weight throw.

If you haven’t heard of the weight throw before, it might be because the event is held only at certain indoor track meets.

Moeder finds a home: Tony Moeder’s switch from center field to first base has done wonders for his offense and defense. After a 10-for-18 week with six runs scored, 11 RBIs and two homers, Moeder has almost matched his totals of last year.

Through 13 games, he is hitting .519 with two homers, 22 RBIs, five doubles, 12 runs scored and four stolen bases in four attempts. In 55 games last year, Moeder, a junior from University of San Diego High, hit .314 with five homers, 10 doubles and 32 RBIs.

He has made two errors in 117 chances at first base. In center field last year, Moeder made six errors in 113 chances.

Moeder’s replacement in center, freshman Larry Williams, is hitting .316 with team highs in runs scored (14) and doubles (seven). He also 13 RBIs, which is tied for second with Kevin Herde.

Where were they Saturday?: Former El Camino basketball players, Dee Boyer, Glenn Ray Ankton and Heath McCoy, are having big years for Orange and Los Angeles county community colleges. Ray Johnson could have used their help Saturday night when his team fell to Monte Vista, 62-58, in the Division II San Diego Section quarterfinals.

Boyer shot 59% from the field and averaged 8.5 rebounds for 19th-ranked Saddleback College. Ankton, Boyer’s teammate, averaged 18 points and shot 79% from the line. He was co-most valuable player of the Orange Empire Conference.

McCoy is the starting point guard for second-ranked Long Beach City College.

Ankton and Boyer return home sort of to play at MiraCosta College in a second round playoff game at 7 p.m. Saddleback is 17-12, MiraCosta is 16-11 Southern California Regional playoffs.