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SportsOctober 10, 1997

Derek Rahlman had been struggling with his golf game, but he certainly had his act together earlier this week. Playing Tuesday afternoon at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson during a Southeast Missouri State University golf team qualifying round, Rahlman fired a five-under-par 66. That performance broke the course record at Kimbeland by two strokes...

Derek Rahlman had been struggling with his golf game, but he certainly had his act together earlier this week.

Playing Tuesday afternoon at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson during a Southeast Missouri State University golf team qualifying round, Rahlman fired a five-under-par 66. That performance broke the course record at Kimbeland by two strokes.

"I was excited," said Ralhman, a Southeast junior. "I made a lot of putts and hit a lot of fairways. It kind of brought me out of my slump a little bit."

Although Rahlman has been a solid golfer during his Southeast career, Indians' coach Carroll Williams said the Poplar Bluff native has found the going rough in recent weeks. That's why Rahlman even had to try and gain one of the Indians' three open spots for this weekend's Bradley Tournament.

"Derek started off as our No. 3 player this year, but he got into a stretch where he wasn't playing very well and he didn't qualify for our last two tournaments," said Williams. "But he really hit it well (Tuesday). Hopefully he'll keep it going."

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Rahlman, who played on a state championship golf team at Poplar Bluff High and also was a line standout on the Poplar Bluff football team, said part of his problems have resulted from a dramatic weight loss.

"I've lost 80 pounds in the last couple of years," he said. "It's been hard to find a swing that works. I'm making more of a body turn now than I did before and I think it's finally starting to come around."

The 66 tied Rahlman's best-ever round. He has also fired a 66 twice on his home course at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff, in high school and again this summer.

"It's definitely the best round I've had in a while," said Rahlman. "I hope I can keep it going."

He'll get a chance this weekend in the Bradley Tournament.

Needless to say, Rahlman qualified to compete.

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