Purdue athletes take on new course

By Keith Thomas
Summer Editor

In deciding to attack the Lafayette area's newest golf course, Coyote Crossing, I realized my game alone simply wasn't strong enough to leave a mark — other than some divots. Thus, I decided to bring some ammunition along with me in the form of Purdue athletes.

To accompany me in this quest, I decided to bring football players Drew Brees and Ben Smith as well as Big Ten Women's golfer of the year, Stacey Orschell.

What started out to be an innocent round of golf while feeling out this new course — designed by the Senior PGA's winningest golfer Hale Irwin — quickly turned into a competition.

The result?

I beat Drew Brees in golf. Well, it wasn't so much me beating Brees and his partner, Smith, as it was my partner, soon-to-be professional golfer Orschell putting on a clinic.

Brees and Smith could be heard on about every third hole saying, "Hey Stace, does your back hurt from carrying the team?"

But, that's all right. After all, when given the opportunity to select teams, the football buddies opted to stick together and take their chances against a scrawny sportswriter and a woman. Nice choice fellas.

The day of golf with the trio of Purdue athletes started out promising, as on the first hole, all four golfers landed in the fairway. This was, however, the last time all of us landed on the fairway together. It was also an indication that three grown men were about to get whipped by a woman golfer — a woman golfer very close to earning an LPGA Tour card, I might add — as the three amigos took bogeys while Orschell nonchalantly sank a birdie put.

This was what I expected. After all, she is one of the best golfers — male or female — in the area.

On the next hole, however, Brees took the honors by taking the only par on the dogleg-right 496-yard par 5. Orschell and Smith took bogeys while I walked away with the day's first — but not last — snowman (8).

After this, it was business as usually for Miss Orschell as she took par on six of the next seven holes, while Brees and Smith stayed close and I examined all the bunkers and trees on the front nine.

I knew that bringing these athletes out together would get the competitive juices flowing as no one wanted to lose and this "friendly" competition was heating up as we made the turn and headed for the 10th hole. I knew about Orschell. Now, I was learning that Brees and Smith are golfers.

On the 255-yard par 4, 11th hole, Mr. Heisman candidate drove the green leaving himself a four-footer for eagle. Then, Brees — Mr. Clutch — choked and two-putted for birdie, but a birdie non-the-less. On the same hole, big bad Ben Smith drove his tee shot over the green. He ended up with a bogey after taking two to get on and two to get in. Stacey had another par and I had two birdies (6).

Hole after hole, Brees, Smith or myself could be heard uttering the words, "nice shot, Stacey." At first, these congratulatory comments were as sincere as could be. However, these all-too-frequent pats on the back became as tiresome as taking ten-golf swings on one hole. The tone quickly became similar to that of Ben Stein and soon just became "nice shot."

However, all the golf in between — with three extremely competitive Purdue athletes — was surprisingly encouraging with verbal support for everyone holding a golf club.

At any moment on the golf course Smith could be heard saying "Give 'er hell, Stace," or "give 'er hell, Brees." This was, however, when Smith "the lumberjack" wasn't chopping down trees with golf balls, causing people to duck and cover with each mammoth swing.

One of the most interesting things about golfing with these athletes who have spent time in the spot light throughout their prep and college careers was just getting to know them as people.

As the temperature started to heat up around noon, Brees would simply laugh at anyone who was sweating. Brees, whose final score of 86 was good enough for second place individually, said Lafayette summers aren't hot and anyone who disputes this claim should spend one summer in his native Texas and they would be wearing parkas upon return to a Lafayette July.

One could also get the feeling he misses his homeland of the Lone Star State. But, fear not Boiler faithful, the guy who was passed on by college scouts in the talent rich state of Texas due to a knee injury loves being a Boiler as much as fans love having him take the snaps on Saturday.

He can't help but smile when he hears the words "Rose Bowl" and he really believes this Purdue football team has a legitimate shot at being there come January, 2001. Nothing is more important than the heart and soul of a team believing in the squad coach Joe Tiller is fielding. I'm just thankful that he has more control of that right arm that he does his three-iron. And no, he cannot throw a football farther than he can hit a golf ball — although I estimate it's pretty close.

Pretty close is not where you want to stand when Smith, third place-93, lands a shot in the trees. Not that he gets angry and throws clubs like a group of my bartending friends are notorious for, but he will hit the ball out of the trees no matter how many attempts it takes him. As he hits these pinball shots out of the woods, I can't help but feel nervous for him, as he is referred to as "the porcelain doll" by defensive coordinator Brock Spack, because "he breaks too much."

However, to be fair, Smith hits a pretty deep shot out of the tee box. And, when it goes straight, which is often, he doesn't usually have much left to get to the green. But, I can sympathize with Smith's tree dilemma because we are both Nebraska natives. Smith, a Chadron, Neb., native and whose father is the head football coach at Chadron State — where my uncle Tom played football, is used to the same treeless "cow pasture" golf courses that I grew up around.

Still, big hitting Smith had a good day on a difficult course.

Orschell did not let us down with her overpowering ability to tame a golf course. Just weeks ago, when this eye-pleasing golf course opened for business, Irwin played the opening round and shot a 1-over par, 73. Orschell finished with the same score despite the distracting testosterone level that surrounded her.

An advertising graduate, Orschell has some interesting ideas for her future. She is a Harley-Davidson lover and other than owning her own, she would like to make the LPGA Tour and be sponsored by the hog-maker. Imagine a golfer wearing a Harley hat as opposed to a Wilson visor. That would be pretty cool. Her dream doesn't stop with this, however. She would like to one day open her own golf course, named "Harley Divotson." Again, cool.

Cool is how to sum up a day spent whacking golf balls out of the ruff with these three golfers that double as athletes. You might not expect a guy like Brees to be so down-to-earth, but he is no different than golfing with a couple of your fraternity brothers or co-workers. Smith, who used to be Brees' roommate, is nothing more than a big-hitting class clown who hopes to stay healthy on the gridiron this year. Orschell's dominance and perfect golf game doesn't make her become annoyed with golfing with amateurs like this writer — rather she is patient, positive and helpful.

Final tallies — Orschell and I, 174; Brees and Smith, 179.

More importantly, however, is the fact that this trio of golfers, who took time out of their busy schedules of signing autographs and lifting weights to accompany me to play this beautiful course, are great athletes, but even better people — as I would hope all student athletes are.