yote notes - edition 15

COMING UP: Men at NAIA West Qualifier, Black Horse GC (Seaside, Calif.), Monday-Tuesday (36 holes).

LAST WEEK: Idle

COYOTE MEN OFF TO CALIFORNIA: The C of I men’s golf team heads to the hallowed golf grounds of Monterey Bay, Calif., for the NAIA West Grouping Qualifier.  The Yotes will be joined by the four other Cascade Conference teams (Concordia, Corban, Northwest Christian, Warner Pacific), a trio of Golden State Athletic Conference teams (Biola, The Masters, Point Loma Nazarene), and five teams from the host California Pacific Conference (Cal Maritime, Holy Names, Menlo, Simpson, William Jessup).  It marks the third-straight year that the Unaffiliated Grouping (CCC/GSAC/CalPac) will play to determine an automatic berth to Nationals – in 2010, the teams met at Diamond Woods in Oregon, and last season, the teams met at Soboba Hills in California.

SURVEYING THE FIELD: Four of the 13 teams in the field are currently ranked among the Top-50 in the most recent GolfStat NAIA Head-to-Head rankings.  Point Loma Nazarene, ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Top-25 poll, is No. 7, while The Masters (No. 28), Concordia (No. 29), and Holy Names (No. 49) are all receiving votes in the NAIA poll.  Last season, Point Loma Nazarene claimed the team title by six strokes over The Masters and Holy Names, with Concordia the top CCC team, finishing fifth.

ABOUT THE COURSE: Overlooking the historic 17-Mile Drive (which includes Pebble Beach Golf Links) and Monterey Bay, Black Horse Golf Course was built in 1964 on the site of a former U.S. military installation, Fort Ord.  The course plays a Par-72 at 7,024 yards with Bentgrass fairways.

WOMEN’S CHANCES FOR NATIONALS?: For the Lady Yotes to earn their first-ever team berth to Nationals, it will depend on the final NAIA Top-25 poll – which will be released on Thursday, as the nine highest ranked teams to not earn an automatic berth through their respective qualifying tournaments, will receive a spot in the 28-team field.  Individually, Trish Gibbens (Caldwell, Idaho / Barry U.) has an outside chance to earn an individual berth to the tournament – due to her stroke average ranking by Golfstat.  However, only four total berths are available to individuals – with players earning medalist honors not on teams qualifying for the tournament, along with the Top-15 players from last years’ event, getting first crack at the spots.  The field for the National Championships will be determined on May 3.

LADY YOTES RANKED NO. 19: The Lady Yotes fell one spot to No. 19 in the third NAIA Top-25 Coaches' Poll of the spring, two weeks ago by the national office in Kansas City, Mo.  It marks the fourth straight polling period that the squad has been in the Top-25, with the high point at No. 17 in the preseason rankings.  The Coyotes received 171 voter points in the tabulation, joined in the poll by fellow Cascade Conference rival Concordia, who was ranked No. 13. No. 2 Lee, No. 4 William Woods, No. 6 Northwood, No. 10 USC-Beaufort - who all finished above the Yotes at the NAIA Fall Preview, were in the poll, along with No. 15 Bethel and No. 22 Point Loma Nazarene, whom the Lady Yotes defeated at the event. Also in the poll is No. 14 Victoria, who defeated the Lady Yotes at the recent Concordia invite.  The final national poll will be released on May 3.

ABOUT THE COACH: Garry Matlock is in his 12th season as head coach of The C of I men's and women's golf programs. Matlock had also served as the top assistant with The C of I men's basketball team for six years, before stepping down after the 2005-06 season. Last season, he led the Coyote men to a fourth-place finish and the Lady Yotes to a second-place finish in the CCC - earning CCC Coach of the Year honors in on the women’s side for the second-straight year. Matlock came to The C of I in 2000 after 16 years as a head basketball coach at Northwest Nazarene University and Rocky Mountain College, compiling a 232-242 career record. Matlock also served as an assistant coach at Boise State for one season. His coaching background, which dates back to 1966, includes serving as head basketball coach at Homedale High School (1971-82). He also coached at Buhl High School and Milwaukie (Ore.) High School. Matlock began his collegiate career at The C of I, where he played baseball and football, is a graduate of NNU, where he played baseball and basketball and is in their Athletic Hall of Fame.  He is married to wife Pamela, and the two live in Caldwell.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on The C of I golf programs, head to the official homepage of the Coyotes, http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/golf.htm.