Troy University Athletics
Back in Action
10/6/2008 5:00:00 AM | Golf
October 6
After our disappointing finish in the opening tournament of the year, we are back and ready to get another tournament underway.
We are currently at the Mizuno Savannah Intercollegiate in Savannah, Ga., hosted by Georgia Southern. The team has had a renewed sense of purpose after we finished the way we did at South Alabama two weeks ago.
Reid Merritt is playing No. 1 for us this week. He played very well in the first tournament of the season and has only been getting better since. When I talk to him about why he's been playing better and better he simply says, "GAME TIME!"
I will be playing No. 2 this week. Michael McGrady is our No. 3 man and he has been playing some of the best golf of anyone as of late. He recently shot 66-65 in the last two rounds of qualifying and had it not been for some unfortunate sequences from Mother Nature, both those rounds would have been better.
Wes Parker is our No. 4 player and has kept his short game wizardry going through the two week layoff. His attitude of "I just roll the rock" is something I wish the rest of the team, mainly myself, could apply to their games.
Rourke Van Der Spuy is rounding out our top five at the tournament. He is simply going to be one of the best players Troy has ever had if he keeps doing the things he's doing now.
We have a rejuvenated excitement heading into the tournament because of someone that is not even on our team ? she's on the women's team. Watching Kaley Branton post a top five in their first tournament of the year has really got everyone's attention and has really excited the team.
The ladies have put more work into their games already this year than I've seen in three years and that makes the men's team practice that much harder. The ladies open play today in Bradenton, Fla., at the USF-Waterlefe Invitational.
Coach (Matt) Terry has continually talked about keeping our heads on straight, remember that we are all doing the right things to get better, and to not look behind us. He has maintained a very positive attitude towards everything we do and it really has benefitted everyone.
Shauna McVeigh has incorporated some new workout regimens in our schedules and I think we are getting more out of what we do now than we ever have before.
This week has the feeling of being something special but we know that, no matter what the outcome, we have more work to be done back in Troy when we get home!
GO TROJANS!!
JH
