Troy University Athletics
Trojan Golfers Hit The Road
9/30/2009 8:30:00 PM | Golf (M), Golf (W)
After less than spectacular starts to the 2009 fall golf season, the Troy University golf teams will both hit the road this weekend in search of better results.
The Troy men will head to Choudrant, La., to play in the 2009 Louisiana Tech/Squire Creek Intercollegiate. Play will open on Monday, Oct. 5, with 36 holes at the Squire Creek Country Club and will conclude with the final 18 holes on Tuesday.
The Troy women will play in the USF-Waterlefe Invitational in Bradenton, Fla. That event will be held on the same dates, and with the same format, at the Waterlefe Golf and River Club.
Both teams will depart on Saturday and play practice rounds on Sunday before their respective tournaments begin.
Troy Women at USF-Waterlefe Invitational
Trojans coach Matt Terry, who will accompany the women to Florida, said both squads expect to make strides in the second event of the fall.
“Our ladies were extremely disappointed with the first event because they were so excited going to Texas and then struggled early under tough conditions and never got a chance to bounce back because the tournament was rained out after the first day,” Terry said.
“They never got a chance to show what they can do. It was like playing one quarter of a football game and then calling it off.”
The Trojans finished last in the 11 team field, which included some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. None of the players managed to break 80 in the soggy conditions, but they have worked hard in the days since to get ready for the trip to Florida.
“They are playing well, but there are still some things they need to clean up,” Terry said. “I like the field for this tournament. It is not as strong as the last tournament, but it will give us a chance to see how we stack up against some of the other Sun Belt teams.”
The Trojans will be joined in the 16 team field by Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic and South Alabama from the Sun Belt. Other schools in the field are Campbell, Charleston Southern, Daytona State, Florida Gulf Coast, Montana, Kennesaw State, McNeese State, Nova Southeastern, Stetson, Southern Miss, UAB and host South Florida.
“I expect South Florida and Campbell to be the best teams in the field, but we can't be worried about what the other teams do,” Terry said. “I want our players to focus on their own games and play the golf course. If they do that, then we will be in contention at the end.”
The Troy squad for the tournament will include seniors Kaley Branton and Desirae Zine, junior Liz Balkcom, sophomore Haley Lawrence and freshman Sofia Bjorkman. Fans can follow Balkcom and the team through Twitter at www.twitter.com/lizzylougolf. You can also check out Balkcom's blog here.
Troy Men at Louisiana Tech/Squire Creek Intercollegiate
The Trojans, who will be accompanied to Louisiana by graduate assistant coach Simmi Masson (www.twitter.com/CoachSimmi), will get a chance to see almost every team from the Sun Belt when they play at the Squire Creek Country Club, a 7,105-yard, par 72 course.
Troy opened its fall season at the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate in Hattiesburg, Miss., and finished in a tie for 13th in the 15 team field. That event was won by Southeastern Louisiana, which will headline the field this weekend as well.
“The guys didn't finish well in that tournament, but they played OK,” Terry said. “They all did some good things on the course, but it seemed as if there was one big mistake per player, per round – one bad shot that led to a bogey instead of a birdie or easy par – that hurt the overall finish.
“If they can correct those small lapses, that could be 12 to 15 shots for the team over the course of three rounds. Those 12 shots in Hattiesburg would have meant finishing seven under par instead of five over.”
The 16-team field includes Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, UNO, South Alabama, UALR and North Texas from the Sun Belt, as well as Stephen F. Austin, two teams from Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Miss, Rice, Jacksonville State, UNC Greensboro and Sam Houston State.
“Three of the teams in the field already have wins this year, so it will be a very good test for our team,” Terry said. “Southeastern won the tournament we were in, Middle Tennessee won Vanderbilt's tournament and Rice has a win.
“The key for the guys is the same as for the girls, they have to be more polished, make good shots to the greens and focus on playing the course, not the other teams in the field. This team is still trying to find its identity because we don't have those seniors from last year.”
The squad for this tournament will be the same as for the first, with senior Justin Eaves joined by juniors Ricky Casko, Reid Merritt and Chase Whitehead, as well as freshman Kyle Blackston. Merritt and Blackston are both coming off strong efforts at Southern Miss, where Merritt finished tied for 21st at three-under par and Blackston was five spots back at one-under par.
“We have to go there ready to play because this is a very good field,” Terry said. “If we play like we are capable, we could be right in the hunt.”
The Troy men will head to Choudrant, La., to play in the 2009 Louisiana Tech/Squire Creek Intercollegiate. Play will open on Monday, Oct. 5, with 36 holes at the Squire Creek Country Club and will conclude with the final 18 holes on Tuesday.
The Troy women will play in the USF-Waterlefe Invitational in Bradenton, Fla. That event will be held on the same dates, and with the same format, at the Waterlefe Golf and River Club.
Both teams will depart on Saturday and play practice rounds on Sunday before their respective tournaments begin.
Troy Women at USF-Waterlefe Invitational
Trojans coach Matt Terry, who will accompany the women to Florida, said both squads expect to make strides in the second event of the fall.
“Our ladies were extremely disappointed with the first event because they were so excited going to Texas and then struggled early under tough conditions and never got a chance to bounce back because the tournament was rained out after the first day,” Terry said.
“They never got a chance to show what they can do. It was like playing one quarter of a football game and then calling it off.”
The Trojans finished last in the 11 team field, which included some of the top-ranked teams in the nation. None of the players managed to break 80 in the soggy conditions, but they have worked hard in the days since to get ready for the trip to Florida.
“They are playing well, but there are still some things they need to clean up,” Terry said. “I like the field for this tournament. It is not as strong as the last tournament, but it will give us a chance to see how we stack up against some of the other Sun Belt teams.”
The Trojans will be joined in the 16 team field by Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic and South Alabama from the Sun Belt. Other schools in the field are Campbell, Charleston Southern, Daytona State, Florida Gulf Coast, Montana, Kennesaw State, McNeese State, Nova Southeastern, Stetson, Southern Miss, UAB and host South Florida.
“I expect South Florida and Campbell to be the best teams in the field, but we can't be worried about what the other teams do,” Terry said. “I want our players to focus on their own games and play the golf course. If they do that, then we will be in contention at the end.”
The Troy squad for the tournament will include seniors Kaley Branton and Desirae Zine, junior Liz Balkcom, sophomore Haley Lawrence and freshman Sofia Bjorkman. Fans can follow Balkcom and the team through Twitter at www.twitter.com/lizzylougolf. You can also check out Balkcom's blog here.
Troy Men at Louisiana Tech/Squire Creek Intercollegiate
The Trojans, who will be accompanied to Louisiana by graduate assistant coach Simmi Masson (www.twitter.com/CoachSimmi), will get a chance to see almost every team from the Sun Belt when they play at the Squire Creek Country Club, a 7,105-yard, par 72 course.
Troy opened its fall season at the Sam H. Hall Intercollegiate in Hattiesburg, Miss., and finished in a tie for 13th in the 15 team field. That event was won by Southeastern Louisiana, which will headline the field this weekend as well.
“The guys didn't finish well in that tournament, but they played OK,” Terry said. “They all did some good things on the course, but it seemed as if there was one big mistake per player, per round – one bad shot that led to a bogey instead of a birdie or easy par – that hurt the overall finish.
“If they can correct those small lapses, that could be 12 to 15 shots for the team over the course of three rounds. Those 12 shots in Hattiesburg would have meant finishing seven under par instead of five over.”
The 16-team field includes Arkansas State, Middle Tennessee, UNO, South Alabama, UALR and North Texas from the Sun Belt, as well as Stephen F. Austin, two teams from Louisiana Tech, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Miss, Rice, Jacksonville State, UNC Greensboro and Sam Houston State.
“Three of the teams in the field already have wins this year, so it will be a very good test for our team,” Terry said. “Southeastern won the tournament we were in, Middle Tennessee won Vanderbilt's tournament and Rice has a win.
“The key for the guys is the same as for the girls, they have to be more polished, make good shots to the greens and focus on playing the course, not the other teams in the field. This team is still trying to find its identity because we don't have those seniors from last year.”
The squad for this tournament will be the same as for the first, with senior Justin Eaves joined by juniors Ricky Casko, Reid Merritt and Chase Whitehead, as well as freshman Kyle Blackston. Merritt and Blackston are both coming off strong efforts at Southern Miss, where Merritt finished tied for 21st at three-under par and Blackston was five spots back at one-under par.
“We have to go there ready to play because this is a very good field,” Terry said. “If we play like we are capable, we could be right in the hunt.”
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