Sophomore keys Rebels’ golf title hopes

When most golfers are struggling with their putting, they start tinkering.

They change their equipment. They alter their stance. They switch routines. Whatever it takes to get the ball to drop into the hole.

When Kevin Penner was having a tough time with his putting, he was tempted to do all of the above. Instead, he did nothing. Suddenly, the putts started dropping, and the UNLV sophomore from Sammamish, Wash., started playing much better.

Penner tied for first place among individuals at last month’s Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, Calif., and he is brimming with confidence as he and the Rebels tee off today in their signature event of the season — the 54-hole Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters — at Southern Highlands Golf Club.

"It was nice to break through and win again," Penner said. "It had been two years since I last won a tournament. But my game was coming around, especially my putting, and I knew I had the ability to compete at this level."

Penner said his turnaround on the greens simply was a matter of hard work.

"I just had to get comfortable again," he said. "It was a lot of repetition and trusting my stance and trusting my stroke."

Rebels coach Dwaine Knight said Penner’s improved play will be critical to UNLV’s success, both this weekend and down the road.

"He has outstanding talent," Knight said. "But he has great determination and desire to play at a high level. He’s gotten so strong. He’s got great length to his game. Now he has his short game working, and we’re seeing him play well."

Penner, whose best finish as a freshman was third place at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate in Las Cruces, N.M., said he is much more adjusted to college life as a sophomore.

"My time-management skills are better," he said. "I’m taking better care of my body. I’m getting my classwork done. At this level, it’s the small things that make the difference."

UNLV has won or shared the Southern Highlands Masters title for three straight years. That streak is in jeopardy as Knight’s team, ranked No. 47 by Golfstat, faces a talent-laden field headed by top-ranked UCLA, No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 5 Georgia Tech and No. 10 Texas A&M. The 15-team field includes 11 top-20 programs.

"This is always a great challenge for us," said Knight, whose lineup will consist of Penner, juniors Derek Ernst and Colby Smith, freshman Blake Biddle and senior Jeremiah Wooding. "The key for us this weekend is to maintain a high level of play throughout the entire tournament. We haven’t done that yet. We’re getting close, and hopefully we can put it all together this weekend."

Play begins at 8 a.m. each day, and admission is free.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.