Calif. quake shakes Quakers golf team

Los Angeles, the land of sun, movie stars and? earthquakes. The Penn golf team got to experience all that local culture had to offer plus get in a few rounds on the links during its spring break trip in California. Sun was the most plentiful of the local icons; the Quakers found sunshine and cloudless skies every day during their preparation for the upcoming spring season. Trouble started when the sun went down, however, as earthquakes awakened the Quakers from their sleep on two separate occasions. Eight members of the team of the team accompanied by head coach Francis Vaughn played an impressive list of courses during the week. In addition to playing at El Caballero Country Club, Annandale Country Club, La Quinta and PGA West, the team was afforded the opportunity to play the famous Bel-Air Country Club. At Bel-Air the team saw a host of celebrities, ranging from Vin Scully to Bob Newhart. The first foursome of Quakers even teed off right behind Joe Pesci and Randy Quaid. While that proved to be a great day, Vaughn notes a different meeting as the trip's highlight. "The highlight of the trip was meeting Paul Runyan," Vaughn said. "He was the 1938 winner of the PGA Championship. He is 86 years old and shot a 77," noted Vaughn. While the trip was fun, it also provided an excellent opportunity for Penn to improve. The courses played were extremely difficult. In last year's U.S. Open qualifying, players at El Caballero posted the worst qualifying scores. "We prepared the best we could," Vaughn said. "We were very fortunate have great weather in California which enabled us to play and practice every day. Everyone's golf game improved as the week progressed." Traveling for Penn were senior Adam Bradshaw, sophomores Rob Goldfaden, Rob Hunt and Christoph Kyrle, and freshmen Kyle Moran, Todd Golditch, Jon Barad and Kieran Doherty. Penn will get it's first chance to see the effects of its extensive winter practice and spring trip this weekend as it travels to Liberty University and Waters Edge Golf Course near Lynchburg, Va. Teams representing eight conferences, including schools as far away as the University of Wyoming and Marquette will be in what should be a strong field.