TABLE OF CONTENTS, QUICK FACTS ATHLETIC STAFF DIRECTORY TABLE OF CONTENTS (Area Code 205) UAB Golf Facilities . .inside front UAB Record Book . .20-22 Director of Athletics Table of Contents . .1 Players in the Pros . .22 Brian Mackin ..............................934-0766 2007-08 Outlook . .2-3 Graeme McDowell . .25 Senior Associate Athletics Director Practice Facilities . .4 All-Time Letterwinners . .26 2007-08 Blazer Roster . .5 UAB at a Glance . .27-29 Lee Moon..................................934-1900 Head Coach Alan Kaufman . .6-7 UAB Administration . .30 Senior Associate A.D./SWA Volunteer Assistant Coaches . .8 UAB Greats . .31 Rosalind Ervin ............................934-6283 Cathal O’Malley . .9 Academic Support Services . .32 Senior Associate Athletics Director Kyle Sapp . .10 Athletic Training . .33 Shannon Ealy .............................996-6004 Brad Smith . .11 Strength & Conditioning . .33 Zach Sucher . .12 The “New” Conference USA . .34 Associate A.D./Academic Services Kaylor Timmons . .13 Birmingham - The Magic City . .35 Danez Marrable ..........................996-9972 Adam West . .14 Shoal Creek Invitational . .36 Associate A.D./Business Affairs Blake West . .15 Chip-In Club . .36 Andy Hollis................................934-8221 John Darby/Mike Oimoen . .16 This is UAB . .inside back Associate A.D./Compliance Jason Shufflebotham/Blake Watts17 2007-08 Schedule . .back cover Chad Jackson ([email protected]) .......975-3051 2006-07 Year In Review . .18-19 Associate A.D./Marketing Sam Miller.................................934-1239 UAB QUICK FACTS Associate A.D./Media Relations Norm Reilly ...............................934-0722 Associate A.D./Ticket Operations Founded . .1969 Matt Wildt.................................975-8221 Enrollment . 17,591 Assistant A.D./Athletic Training National Affiliation . NCAA Division I Mike Jones ................................934-6013 Conference Affiliation . Conference USA Assistant A.D./Development President . Dr. Carol Garrison Jake Lemon ...............................975-7577 Faculty Representative . Dr. Frank Messina Assistant A.D./Financial Affairs Director of Athletics . Brian Mackin Dave Henze ...............................934-3040 Head Men’s Golf Coach . Alan Kaufman Assistant A.D./Operations and Facilities Career Record/Seasons . 889-627-21 (.585)/nine seasons Reid Adair ([email protected]) .............934-8154 Director of Physical Development 2006-07 Head-to-Head Record . .106-69-2 (.600) Stacey Torman ...........................934-8301 2007 Conference USA Championship . .2nd of 12 Returning Letterwinners . .6 Athletic Media Relations Newcomers . 4 Associate A.D./Media Relations Norm Reilly ([email protected]).........934-0722 Associate Media Relations Director/Men’s Golf Contact Aaron Jordan ([email protected]) ....934-0722 Assistant Media Relations Directors Michelle Cunningham ([email protected])....................934-0722 Mark Vellek ([email protected]) .......934-0722 Media Relations Assistant Colin Waters ([email protected]) ......................934-0722 UAB Media Relations Mailing Address: CREDITS BRTW 105 The 2007-08 UAB men’s golf media guide is an official production of the 1530 3rd Ave. S. UAB Athletic Media Relations Office. The guide was designed, written Birmingham, AL 35294-1160 and edited by Aaron Jordan, Associate Athletic Media Relations Overnight Shipping Address: 617 13th St. S. (Bartow Arena) Director. Special thanks to Cindy Powell, UAB Printing Services. Birmingham, AL 35294-1160 Editorial assitance provided by Norm Reilly, Leah Jordan and head coach Alan Kaufman. Photography provided by Steve Wood and Ashley Athletic Media Relations Fax: ........934-7505 Fleming. Cover design by Cindy Powell. “UAB At A Glance” section designed by UAB Creative Services. Printed by UAB Printing Services. 2007-08 UAB MEN’S GOLF MEDIA GUIDE 1 2007-08 SEASON OUTLOOK There is a lot of excitement surrounding place finish in the league championship, the 2007-08 UAB men’s golf team. The tying them for the best finish in school Blazers return all but one golfer from history. last season’s NCAA Regional team and “I am very excited for this season,” UAB have their goals set high for what could head coach Alan Kaufman said. “We lost be a memorable year for this year’s a great golfer in Garrett, but we have a squad. UAB also welcomes back a sec- nice of mix experienced and talented ond-team all-conference performer, as golfers this season. I think this could be well as the Conference USA Newcomer a very exciting year for the UAB men’s of the Year and the league’s Freshman golf program.” of the Year. Helping fill the void in losing Osborn are An early obstacle the Blazers will have a pair of seniors. Brad Smith and Kyle to overcome is that of departed senior Sapp are two golfers who Kaufman Garrett Osborn. Last season, Osborn expects to lead this year’s team to new became the first Blazer to earn back-to- heights back First-Team All-Conference USA honors since Graeme McDowell earned Smith had an outstanding season in back-to-back first team nods in 2001 2006-07 after coming to UAB from and 2002. He earned his second consec- Indian Hills (Iowa) Community College. utive first team honor in 2007 after nab- Smith made an immediate impact and bing the accolade as a junior, as well as was tabbed the 2007 Conference USA a third-team selection during his sopho- Newcomer of the Year. more season. Osborn led the Blazers in Last season, Smith, a native of stroke average with a 72.48. Hawthorne, Australia, earned the inau- Senior Brad Smith, the 2007 C-USA Additionally, Osborn captured two tour- gural C-USA award after earning four Newcomer of the Year, has his eyes set nament titles a year ago, including the top-20 finishes and ranking third on the on bigger prizes in 2008. 2007 Conference USA Championship squad with a 74.31 per round average. medalist honor. In doing so, he became Graeme McDowell's 2002 NCAA result as Sapp also had an impressive junior sea- just the second golfer in school history the best-ever finish at an NCAA event in son. He competed in a career-high eight to capture the C-USA Championship program history, while his 275 broke events throughout the campaign and medalist honor, winning the title with a McDowell’s 72-hole school record low finished the year with a 75.92 per-round four-under par 212 (69-73-70). Osborn's mark of 279 also set during the 2002 average. Sapp had a career-best tourna- success helped the Blazers to a second- campaign. ment at the Barona Intercollegiate dur- ing the fall campaign where he record- Sucher also earned second-team All- ed career-low scores for 18 (69), 36 Conference USA accolades after record- (139) and 54 (216) holes. ing a 72.55 per round average, which ranked second best on the UAB team. “Brad and Kyle are both important He captured his first tournament medal- pieces to this year’s team,” Kaufman ist honor at the Barona Collegiate Cup said. “They are the only two seniors on with a career-low 13-under par 203, the team. Both will need to play consis- which included a career-low 18-hole tently and I think they are going to have mark of 65 during opening round. His a great year.” opening-round 65 tied for the fourth- Perhaps the most improved player head- lowest 18-hole marks in school history, ing into this season is junior Zach while his 54-hole mark of 203 during his Sucher. The Mobile, Ala. native had a championship run was the seventh-best breakout season capped by earning hon- tournament total in UAB lore. Sucher orable mention All-American honors. He finished the season with three top-10 became the first Blazer to qualify as an finishes and eight top-25 finishes, while individual for the 2007 NCAA also carding 14 rounds of par or below. Championships after he tied for eighth He hopes to take the momentum from a overall at the NCAA East Regional in year ago and take his golf game to the Alpharetta, Ga. with a one-under par next level. It is something Kaufman 215 (73-73-69). From there, Sucher feels is very possible. proved he belonged among the nation’s elite golfers, as he closed play at the “Zach had a special season last year and NCAA Nationals with a fourth-place fin- he has really improved a lot,” Kaufman Senior Kyle Sapp looks to provide lead- ish with a five-under par 275 (68-67-70- said. “He could become one of the bet- ership to this season’s team. 70). That fourth-place finish matched ter players who has played at UAB if he 2 2007-08 UAB MEN’S GOLF MEDIA GUIDE 2007-08 SEASON OUTLOOK continues to work hard and improve. I even higher is the addition of four Faulkner State Community College. Like am looking for really big things this sea- standout golfers to this year’s team. Shufflebotham, Darby also had recent son from Zach.” Junior Mike Oimoen, sophomore John success as an amateur, as he shot rounds Darby and freshmen Jason of 72-74/146 to claim the lone qualify- A trio of sophomores also help with the Shufflebotham and Blake Watts make up ing spot in the state qualifier for the depth and give a glimpse of the poten- what Kaufman calls one of the best U.S. Amateur Public Links tial of this year’s team: Redshirt sopho- recruiting classes to come to UAB. Championship. Darby, a product of more Cathal O’Malley and twin brothers Hoover High School, spent one season at Adam and Blake West. "This is a terrific recruiting class," Faulkner State where he claimed two Kaufman said. "It is the best one since Last year, O’Malley cracked the starting titles (Wallace State-Hanceville at Terri 1999 when Graeme McDowell and Daniel lineup towards the end of the season, Pines and Faulkner State at Rock Creek), Osley came to UAB.