Men's Golf
Zack Reeves gives UTA senior leadership heading into the SLC Tournament. |
GOLFERS HEAD TO LAKE CHARLES, LA., FOR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
April 13, 2008
By Jimmy Glenn, The Southland Conference
LAKE CHARLES, La. - - The 45th annual Southland Conference men's golf tournament is set to begin play Monday, April 14 as league members will tee off at 8 a.m. at the Lake Charles, La. golf course, Gray Plantation.
Finishing the regular season atop the leader board, the UT Arlington Mavericks (288.72) look to reclaim their first SLC golf title since 2005. The Mavs claimed two regular season meets and placed no less than fifth in five of their other eight meetings.
Collectively, the UTA tournament squad holds 12 top 10 finishes and each tournament member holds a best round score of 70 or below, with an SLC best round of the season shot by Bobby Massa (64). UTA is also the only SLC team to win two player of the month awards, Michael Van de Venter - October, Zack Reeves - November.
Close behind UTA are two-time defending champions the Lamar Cardinals (294.31). Having claimed literally half of the SLC titles since 1964 (21) Lamar returns from 2007 with a third place tie in the 2007 NCAA Championship. Leading the Cardinals squad is former SLC Player of the Year (2006) Casey Clendenon. Claiming the March player of the month, Clendenon is one of only two league players with five top 10 finishes including a first place tie at the Gopher Invitational.
Each Lamar tournament member holds a best round score of 68 or below, the best in the SLC.
Currently second in the SLC with five individual champions, Sam Houston State enters the conference post season tournament third in league standings (295.56) and is seeking to reclaim the title under new head coach Ronnie Choate that has eluded them since 1994. Led by Scooter Jefferson, each tournament member holds an average of no more than 76.
One point out of third place in league standings (296.06) behind Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana's tournament team comes into league postseason play having claimed a conference best 13 top 10 finishes. February player of the month, freshman Cedric Scotto leads the Lions in pursuit of their first SLC title since 2000.
Of their 12 meets this season SLU has taken one victory and placed in the top five in five other meets.
Central Arkansas (297.44) has proven it can compete at the Division I level. The Bears claimed two wins this season while placing in the top five in three of their other eight tournaments. One of two SLC players with five top 10 finishes, Gideon Pienaar led UCA in rounds played (29) and took two first place finishes. Due to NCAA guidelines for universities transitioning from Division II to Division I UCA is inelegible to compete in the NCAA Tournament should they win the SLC Tournament.
Texas State enters the 2008 post season having posted top five finishes in half their meets this season. Corey Roberson leads the Bobcats with the top round score (67) and most top ten finishes (3). The Bobcats are in search of their first Southland Conference title since 1997.
Having not claimed the SLC Golf Tournament title since 1999 Stephen F. Austin enters the 2008 league post season as the number eight team. Freshman Kyle Robbins holds the team's best round of the season (69).
One of two league teams to claim three consecutive conference tournament titles (1977, 78, 79) McNeese State enters post season play with the longest drought in the SLC since last hoisting the league's trophy. Senior Sigmundur Masson finished a team first in eight of nine tournaments including one first place finish, a second and third.
Rounding out the tournament field, UTSA and Nicholls State enter the 2008 SLC Tournament seeking their first league crown. Sophomore Phillip Hui leads an anxious group of Roadrunners with a 75.66 stroke average. Junior James Terrebone sits a top a hungry Colonels team with a 77.52 stroke average.