The men’s and women’s golf teams competed in their last regular season tournaments April 12-April 14.
The men’s team hosted the Natural State Golf Classic at the Red Apple Inn in Heber Springs, Ark., placing fifth out of nine teams.
Head coach Dustin Howell said freshman Juan Luiz Sanchez was a standout for the tournament, leading the team for the first time this season.
“He was our bright spot this week,” Howell said. “He is an outstanding player and seems to be peaking at the right time headed towards conference.”
Sanchez shot 1-under on Monday and 1-over on Tuesday to finish at even par 142 for the tournament and place 10th overall.
Other team players included junior Alex Williamson who tied for 20th, freshman Mason Banger who tied for 24th, freshman Logan Handy who finished in 40th place and freshman Nick Jackson who placed 51st.
Howell said that the course was good preparation for the team leading into the conference tournament next week because of the similarities between Red Apple Inn and the course the conference tournament will be played on.
Freshman Mason Banger said that after this last tournament the team will be focusing on improving their short game to prepare for conference.
“We missed a lot of putts, which is a problem,” Banger said. “We played really well, but we just could not get the ball in the hole. I think we are going to spend a lot of time on the putting green.”The women’s team traveled to Springfield, Mo. to compete in the Central Region Spring Preview. The team finished 17th overall, shooting 362 and 356 for a 718 total.
Freshman Katelyn Walker was a strong point for the team, shooting her best 36-hole score of the season with an 85 in round one and 84 in round two for a 169 total. Walker, as well as senior Brittney Marquez, tied for 49th with Marquez shooting 87 in round one and 82 in round two for a team best.
Other players included sophomore CharlesAnn Freeman who placed 81st, freshman Kaleigh Ramey who placed 83rd and freshman Sarah Creeley who placed 89th.
Freeman said this tournament helped the girls work on some of their weaknesses to prepare for the conference tournament next week.
“Always in golf we are trying to work on our mental game,” Freeman said. “We are trying to follow up a bad hole with a good hole instead of letting it get in our heads. It is a big part of golf. We just want to go out and do our best.”
Freeman said that this tournament also helped the women get a feel for the competition going into the conference tournament and work on their short game.
The Great American Conference tournament will begin for both teams Sunday, April 19 at 8 a.m. in Hot Springs, Ark.
Both teams must place first to advance to regionals.
