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The team feels ready for the competition and hopes to place well at the event, since they finished first in an earlier tournament at the same course with WAC competitors.

"Our win at the Columbia Lakes Invitational came at the same course, and we beat such strong WAC teams as Fresno State [University] and San Diego State [University] there," senior Tim Carlson said. "We are really looking forward to the challenge that the week presents."

The team has plans to work on fundamentals this week to make sure they are in top form so they can make a good showing at the championships.

"We need to work very hard this week, then next week go out and have fun and do our best," senior John Lawrence said.

They faced one last obstacle before they could focus on the championships next week, though: the All-America Intercollegiate. The tournament was hosted by the University of Houston on April 12 and 13.

Rice, with two finishers in the top-15, managed a fourth-place finish. They were 15 shots back from the overall winner, the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The field consisted of 16 teams, mostly from Texas, which made it important for Rice to do well so they could advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Andy Rapp, who stepped up to finish tied for ninth with four other competitors at five-over-par, led the team. Lawrence was right behind Rapp with a seven-over-par 15th-place finish.

Rapp, whose highest finish this year was a tie for 34th at the Border Olympics in March, finished the first day even at par and tied for third.

On the second round Rapp shot a five-over-par 77 to end up ninth overall. Carlson came in with a nine-over-par 26th-place.

"I was very disappointed in my own individual performance but was quite pleased with how the other guys, especially Andy, picked up my slack on the first day," Carlson said.

Freshman Chris Connally and senior Jim Duke finished next for Rice, tying with three others in the 44th spot at 12-over-par. Junior Kalani Kiaaina rounded out the Rice squad with a 15-over-par for a 57th-place finish.

With this last tournament behind them, the Owls are ready to prepare for the WAC championships.

Their goal is to win the WAC, but even if they fail, they at least hope to play well during the tournament to better prepare themselves for regionals.

"Considering the strong caliber of the WAC teams, though, I think if we could put together a couple of real[ly] strong rounds and have a chance to win on the last day, we would be very pleased with our performance no matter the outcome," Carlson said.

This item appeared in the Sports section of the April 18, 1997 issue.