It's Joe Kinney's final year at Kansas State, and he is determined to make the most of it. To him it is part of his ultimate goal to become a professional golfer following his graduation in May.

And so with that goal in mind, he spent his summer training with his professional golf trainer Scott Beaugureau in Chicago.

In the spring he spoke with KSU coach Tim Norris about his plans this summer, and the two of them discussed what it was he should focus his attention on based on his statistics from the spring season.

That summer training consisted of playing in several tournaments, as well as finetuning the smaller aspects of his game with Beaugureau.

"We just worked to make some changes and they are paying off," Kinney said.

During his summer training both Kinney and Norris kept in contact, discussing his progress he made with Beaugureau and what Norris felt he should focus his attention on in order to come back to K-State and be the leader Norris needed.

"I just tried to reinforce what I thought about his game." Norris said. "I thought he could be a difference maker this year. I like to keep track of how the guys are doing over the summer. If you play well during the summer it bodes well for you in the fall."

Those changes were evident this fall when Kinney returned to Manhattan from his hometown in Antioch, Ill. The fifthyear senior has played in four events this fall, matching his total for last fall and spring combined, and has posted a 208 54-hole low, which leads the squad.

Last season his 54-hole low was significantly higher at 224.

"He is really solid this year. It's very gratifying," Norris said of the improvements he has made from just one year ago.

The Wildcats are in the midst of preparing for their final two tournaments of the fall season. They will begin with the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tournament at the New Mexico State C.C. -scheduled Monday and Tuesday.

Last season the Wildcats finished second in the tournament in a field of 18 teams with a 54-hole score of 17-over-par 869. Furthermore Morris' team will have three players that have played the course at least once in their career.

It will also be another opportunity for Norris to evaluate his players before heading into the winter break. Thus far, he says he has been pleased with what he has seen in the four tournaments this fall.

"We have had excellent individual tournaments thus far," Morris said. "We have just been lacking some depth. We just need more guys closer to the top when they get done."

Meanwhile Kinney will look to build off the success he has found this season and fill the leadership role he has stepped into this year.

"He just is sending a message to the guys that if they just keep working hard at their game and stay patient, that good things can happen." Norris said.