Saturday, March 20, 2010

“Nevada golf program hit with 3-year probation, scholarship reductions (Reno Gazette-Journal)” plus 1 more

“Nevada golf program hit with 3-year probation, scholarship reductions (Reno Gazette-Journal)” plus 1 more

Nevada golf program hit with 3-year probation, scholarship reductions (Reno Gazette-Journal)

Posted: 20 Mar 2010 09:15 AM PDT

The University of Nevada golf program has been placed on three years of probation and lost scholarships for men's and women's teams after a 28-month NCAA investigation.

But the NCAA found no lack of institutional control, no failure to monitor on the part of UNR and no gambling violations following an investigation that began in December 2007, the university announced Thursday.

The NCAA Committee on Infractions report cited major violations in the men's and women's golf programs, but there were no violations found in any other Nevada athletic programs.

"We are pleased to have come to agreement with the NCAA as to the facts and the appropriate penalty," university President Milt Glick said in a news release. "We are in agreement with the NCAA's decision announced today."

The violations committed within the golf program included multiple extra benefit violations, unethical conduct and a failure to promote rules compliance by former men's golf coach Rich Merritt. The university reported the violations to the Western Athletic Conference before the NCAA investigation began. Merritt resigned May 14, 2008.

The NCAA investigation stemmed from a whistle-blower complaint filed by former soccer coach Terri Patraw in September 2007 alleging improper conduct, including sports betting, by Merritt. Athletic Director Cary Groth said Merritt resigned because of "errors in judgment" but that he did not bet on sports.

Groth said Thursday she expected the sanctions.

"Our coach pretty much acted like a rogue coach," she said. "He knew the rules and chose not to follow them."

The NCAA detailed the violations in a news release.

"This case centered on multiple extra benefit violations, primarily involving the head men's golf coach, which occurred from the fall of 2004 through fall 2007," the NCAA wrote in its report. "These extra benefits included airline tickets, $325 in cash, as well as impermissible lodging, transportation and meals, among others. In addition, the committee found the former men's head coach acted unethically when he knowingly furnished the enforcement staff and university with false and misleading information, failed to protect the integrity of the investigation as requested by the enforcement staff, and refused to furnish information relevant to the investigation."

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Latest Golf News (GolfDigest.com)

Posted: 20 Mar 2010 08:07 AM PDT

Five of the players in the top 10 heading into the weekend at the Transitions Championship have won major championships and a sixth is the No. 2-ranked player in the world. Nine of the 10 have won PGA Tour events.

For a tournament that falls between a World Golf Championship event (the WGC-CA Championship) and the Arnold Palmer Invitational, could it reasonably expect anything better?

The major winners: Padraig Harrington leads, Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen are among four tied for second, Steve Elkington is tied for sixth, and David Toms is tied for ninth.

Steve Stricker, world No. 2, is tied for sixth.

The only player in the top 10 without a PGA Tour victory is Bubba Watson, who is tied for second.

Rounding out the top 10 are Carl Pettersson, Jeff Maggert and Jonathan Byrd, all of them past winners.

-- John Strege

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