Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | 9:59 a.m.
STILLWATER, Okla. -- Ask anyone in the know and they will tell you about the can't-miss buy in this bucolic college town: Eskimo Joe's famous T-shirts.
Off the shelves they've flown since 1975, and wearing the grinning-Eskimo-and-husky logo of the Oklahoma State bar once voted the best college postgame hangout by The Sporting News is the secret knock at the town door.
The immortal green plains are content to hide the simple appeal that 40,000 residents enjoy here, but even "Stillwater's Jumpin' Little Juke Joint" reached through the quiet to grab a piece of spotlight when it began selling those special shirts on its website.
Jumping out of the calm background and into the big time this week is Karsten Creek Golf Course, the home of the 2003 NCAA Men's Golf Championships. Quite a gem it is -- UNLV coach Dwaine Knight calls it the hardest nationals course he has seen since The Honors Course at Tennessee seven years ago.
"It really gives a complete test of all your game," Knight said Monday after his team's second practice round.
Deceptively tight fairways, firm greens and 4-inch short rough awaited the Rebels as they teed off at 10:45 p.m. PDT in their 14th championship appearance in 15 years. With just one senior (Brien Davis), Knight brings one of his youngest squads into the four-round tournament.
Even after a third-place finish at the NCAA West regional, Knight remains concerned about how the 7,200-plus yards of Karsten Creek will affect his green team.
"This team has never had the kind of experience to play such a severe test," Knight said.
Sunday's first look at the course left the Rebels with a healthy respect for it. Sophomore Travis Whisman said that while most courses afford at least 10 good scoring opportunities, there are only four holes that can be attacked for birdies at Karsten Creek.
"Pars are going to be important, and like coach says, staying away from the big numbers," said Whisman, a Reno native. "I just don't think you're going to be able to make enough birdies to contend if you're making a couple of doubles a round, or worse."
The team prepared with tactical games, such as punching rough shots into the fairway, a technique designed to breed patience. Two times through the Karsten Creek track left the Rebels feeling more confident and poised to better their disappointing 23rd-place last year.
"We feel a lot more confident on it than when we first got on it," freshman Ryan Keeney said.
One player not likely to be daunted by the course is sophomore sensation Ryan Moore. The 20-year-old played in the Masters at Augusta National and in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black. Tough course conditions are redefined in professional majors, and Knight plans to lean on his young veteran.
"He's very seasoned as far as playing this type of golf course," Knight said.
Moore finished eighth in last year's NCAA tournament as a freshman and his performance can key the Rebels in a field headed by national powers Clemson, UCLA and host Oklahoma State.
"(Ryan's) just excelled very quickly, and he's brought everyone else along too," Knight said.
This group may even have excelled beyond Knight's hopes. The Rebels finished no lower than ninth in any tournament this season and with most of the roster returning, UNLV is looking to ice its cake by getting into contention.
"That would be awesome for this group, and they're certainly capable of doing that," Knight said.
Self-assurance is running high for the Rebels, who recovered from an average showing in two April tournaments to hit their stride when it matters.
"When you look across the line, everyone is playing good or good enough," Whisman said.
UNLV turns around from its late tee time today to begin play Wednesday at 5:45 a.m. (PDT).
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