Tim Bobosky Photographer Erin Andrews helped the Ducks to a second place finish by tying for seventh in the Duck Invitational. EDGED continued from page 7 a career-best finish with a tie for 29th, while jun ior Jaime Seethed shot a 249 total to finish 32nd. Portland State finished third in the team stand ings, a distant 31 strokes behind Oregon. Long Beach State and Cal State Northridge tied for 4th with a 959 total. Santa Clara edged Idaho for 7th, while the University of British Columbia and Portland finished 8th and 9th, respectively. r Welch fired a 73-74-71-218 to become the champion of the Duck Invitational for the third year in a row. "I don't know why really," Welch said of winning the tournament. "I guess I just play well in Oregon." Kostina finished fourth with a 77-79-71-227, while Long Beach State's Bolee Kim and Washing ton State's Ana Kostina finished tied for 5th at 229. The Ducks return to action March 22-23 at the Colby Invitational in Carmel, Calif. Brian Smith is a freelance reporter for the Emerald. Advertise in the ODE classifieds _Call 346-4343 or place your ad online www.dailyemerald.com BALANCE continued from page 7 em California and UCLA last week. In each of those games, at least 10 players saw action. Against the Trojans, all but Matt Short — who started the game — and Jordan Kent played at least 10 minutes. Two days later that trend slowed a bit, but a message has been sent. It's going to be a total team effort in Los Angeles at the Pac-10 Tournament. If it's not, the Ducks will miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in three seasons. "This year, our biggest thing is our depth," Oregon forward Jay Anderson said. "Our big guys are doing really well right now and ob viously our guards are scoring. We're going to have different options and a lot of differ ent areas we can go to." That depth showed with the presence of Adam Zahn against the Trojans and Bruins. The 6-foot-8 forward played 10 minutes against USC and 12 against UCLA. His statistical line may not be impressive — he combined for six points, three re bounds and five fouls — but he proved that he can be the fourth man in Oregon's for ward rotation. With Anderson being the main backup to Crosswhite and freshman Mitch Platt for most of the season, the Ducks have been looking for that No. 4 spot. "Coach has told me this whole time, 'just prove it to me in practice,'" Zahn said. "I've been working real hard and he gave me an opportunity. I think he just had to be com fortable having me in there." Zahn will be responsible for giving Ore gon depth. He will be counted on not for scoring but for defense and rebounding — two things the Ducks have struggled with at times this season. Zahn will hope to do that in the name of winning three games in three days. Last season, Oregon won those three games in three days, taking the Pac-10 Tournament crown as the No. 5 seed. A season before, the Ducks lost in the semifinals of the Pac-10 Tour nament as the top seed. This season, they'll have to win the cham pionship to head to the NCAA Tournament, if not, they'll be bound for the NIT'. Can previous Pac-10 Tournament success pay off? Or even the two-game winning streak the team is enjoying? "I think teams going into the tournament playing well at the end of the year do a lot better," Jackson said. "I feel that we're play ing well right now. If we continue to play like we are, we'll have a shot at winning it." In Oregon's favor The Ducks have participated in six Pac 10 Tournaments prior to Thursday's game. Oregon has seen some success in its post season appearances. Overall, the Ducks are 6-5 in the Pac-10 Tournament, winning three straight last sea son. Oregon went 1-1 the year before and was 2-3 from 1987-1990. The tournament went on hiatus at that point, returning for the 2001-02 season. California tidbit Thursday's game will mark the first time California and Oregon will face off in the Pac-10 Tournament. It isn't however, the first time the Ducks and Golden Bears will play in the postseason. The teams met on March 23,1999, at the NITs Final Four in New York. Oregon and Cal had split the season series — with both teams winning at home, much like this sea son — prior to the final game. The Golden Bears took that game, 85-69, en route to winning the NIT Championship. The teams also met in 1939, with Oregon taking two straight in the Pacific Coast Con ference championship series. Oregon won its only NCAA Championship that season. Contact the sports editor at hankhager@dailyemerald.com SPORTS BRIEF Cleveland signs three-time Pro Bowler BEREA, Ohio — During the past four years, Browns president Carmen Policy said owner Randy Lemer made it dear what type of quarterback he admired. "He used to point to Jeff Garda as the type of quarterback he enjoyed watching," Policy said of Lerner. "He liked his spirit, and his technique, and his mobility." Evidently, Lemer and coach Butch Davis were in the same corner. Davis finally found the man to supplant 1999 No. 1 draft choice Tim Couch as the Browns signed Garda on Tuesday to a four-year, $25 million contract that can be voided after the first two years. Policy said the Browns could keep Couch on the roster all season if necessary, but it is expect ed that he will be traded or rdeased. After waf fling between Couch and Kelly Holcomb last year, Davis quickly named Garda his starter. When asked what he likes about Garcia, Davis said, "The way he plays the game, the passion, the athleticism, the way he drove teams, his charisma. If you look at all the successes he's had, there was a common thread at every level of football — he's been a winner. They were 12-4 in San Fran cisco, he's been to a Grey Cup champi onship, he's been in the playoffs, he's been a Pro Bowl player." A three-time Pro Bowler, Garcia went 35-36 as a starter in San Francisco over the past five seasons. He will receive a $5 million signing bonus and carry a $500,000 salary in 2004. His salary in 2005 will be $4.5 million. Garcia appeared headed to Tampa Bay on Monday, especially after a story ap peared in Garcia's hometown newspaper in Gilroy, Calif., that quoted his father, Bob Garcia, as saying, "He's going to Florida" because Garcia wanted to play for Bucs coach Jon Gruden. "He's suspended from talking to the me dia, " Garcia said of his dad. Garcia was released by the 49ers on March 2 after he rejected a cut in his base salary from $9 million to $5 million. — Marla Ridenour Knight Ridder Newspapers PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER. Our rental program now offers outdoor equipment for UO students and Co-op members at the best prices in town. We have tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, river rafts, kayaks, snowshoes and much more. Rental Hours: Thurs 12-4, Fri 12-6, Mon 9-1 The rental facility is located at 18th and University For current prices or more info, call 346-4371 or visit our webpage at www.outdoorprogram.uoregon.edu e Outdoor Program (j UNIVERSITY OF OREGON