[media-credit name=’JAKE NAUGHTON/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]

It
is often difficult to judge how valuable a player is to a team by statistics or
results alone. Some of the most talented athletes can be distractions to their
team through complaining or lack of effort. On the other hand, some players can
often bring the most value to their team through their attitude and work ethic.
This scenario holds especially true for Jeff Kaiser, a UW men’s golf team
senior.

Kaiser,
the only senior on the team this year, has been a valuable asset not only in
competition, but also in his leadership skills.

?”He’s just a competitor,” head coach Jim
Schuman said.? “He’s done so many
great things for us.? He may not be
the guy who shoots the lowest scores, but on a day-in, day-out basis he’s done
everything we asked of him.”

Although
Kaiser struggled through a portion of the year, he used his struggles to help
inspire his teammates.? For part of
the season Kaiser wasn’t actually in the lineup, but he continued to work hard
to earn himself a spot in the top group again.?

“I
thought he showed the leadership … this year probably off the course more than
anything else, how he handled himself when he wasn’t playing well,” Schuman
said.? “He broke into the lineup
just the last couple tournaments of the spring, kind of struggled with his game
for a while there.? I think the way
he handled that adversity off the course was his biggest role in terms of
leadership.”

His
hard work paid off last weekend at the Big Ten Championships at Michigan
State.? Kaiser shot a 74, two over
par, on Sunday to help Wisconsin to the third-best score in the final
round.? Although it was not enough
to lead the team into the top standings of the tournament, the effort shown by
Kaiser was typical of how he handled himself this season.?

“I
generally just try lead by example,” Kaiser said.? “I try and work hard always in practice or in the gym, in
school, whatever we’re doing.”

It
was this work ethic that guided the team, both coaches and teammates
alike.?

“He’s
meant a great deal to our team,” assistant coach Brian Brodell said. “I’ve
learned a lot from him.”

Kaiser,
one of only two captains on the team this year, may get another shot to
demonstrate his leadership before his time at UW is done. If everything works
out, the Badgers will compete again in the NCAA Regionals May 15. Seeking to
improve on the team’s eighth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, Kaiser
is fired up.?

“I
definitely don’t want to be done,” Kaiser said. “Hopefully I’ll get another
opportunity.”

The
thought of finishing his career didn’t actually occur to Kaiser until his final
round at the Big Ten Championships.?

“[It]
kind of hit me; this could’ve been my last round. It’s pretty sad,” Kaiser
said.?

In
addition to continuing his career as a Badger, Kaiser is also motivated by last
year’s NCAA Regionals, where Wisconsin missed out on moving to NCAA
Championships by one shot.?

“That
was extremely disappointing,” Kaiser said. “There’s a lot of good teams out
there.? We need to work harder and
get it together at the right time.?
Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to do that.”

Regardless
whether the team makes the regionals or not, the determination Kaiser has shown
his teammates and coaching staff can only help make the team better in years to
come.?