Golf Teams Set to Open Season

GOLFWEEK PROGRAM CHALLENGE PREVIEW | MEN'S LIVE SCORING | WOMEN'S LIVE SCORING

The Troy University men's and women's golf teams will join forced this weekend as the squads open the 2011-12 season at the Golfweek Magazine Program Challenge in Pawleys Island, SC, near Myrtle Beach.

The event is promoted as the unofficial kickoff of the college golf season.

The Program Challenge is different from other college golf tournament in that men's and women's teams from 12 NCAA Division I schools will play 54 holes on separate courses. After the completion of the final round, a men's and women's team champion will be crowned. But so, too, will the Program Challenge winner – the school (both men's and women's teams) that has the lowest cumulative score.

Troy goes into the opening event of the year with many question marks, which are the result of a combined five freshmen who will play this weekend. The Troy women have three freshmen set to make their collegiate debuts along with a pair of returning juniors.

“We are excited about getting started with a new year,” Troy coach Matt Terry, who is entering his 10th season, said. “We had our best year I have had as a women's coach last year. I am excited to see what this team can be. We will have some things to work on after this tournament.”

The Trojans will open play on Sunday with juniors Sofia Bjorkman and Sara Fennvik playing along with freshmen Taylor McGraw, Sydney Conrad and Langley Vannoy.

Troy's only senior, Haley Lawrence, will see only limited playing time during the fall season while working with the Troy football team as a student trainer. Lawrence, who captured the state Stroke Play title over the summer, could have been available to play in the Program Challenge, but was selected to take part in qualifying on Monday for the LPGA Navistar Classic in her hometown, Prattville.

“Haley will not be playing but one or two events because of her responsibilities with football,” Terry said. “We are not going to stand in the way of anyone getting the degree they want. She will also be going through qualifying for the Navistar LPGA Classic in Prattville on Monday. The top two (of 16) will qualify for the tournament.”

With Lawrence out of the lineup, it will be up to the two juniors from Sweden to lead the Trojans.

“Sofia is hitting the ball better than I have ever seen,” Terry said. “She is going into the season with a lot of confidence. Sara is looking to build off what she did last spring. She played well and showed us that she can compete. It will be interesting to see the two of them lead this team.”

As for the three freshmen, they have to realize quickly that playing on the collegiate level is no different from the golf they have played in the past.

“They all have to realize that it is just 18 holes of golf, no different from what they did in high school or the summer,” Terry said. “It will just be 18 holes a day. There is going to be a learning process for all of them, but they are talented enough to get it done. They are talented enough to overcome some nerves.”

The women will play on the par-70, 6,121-yard Caledonia Golf and Fish Club Course. East Carolina (50) enters the event as the top-ranked team on the women's side, but Texas State (72), Campbell (84), South Florida (95), James Madison (98) and Jacksonville State (99) all finished last year ranked among the top 100 teams in the nation.

The Troy men come into the tournament with an even younger team. Senior Ricky Casko leads a group that includes two sophomores – Kyle Thommesen and Will Thompson – who played in a combined five tournaments as freshmen, and two true freshmen – Tolver Dozier and Jake Tucker.

“Casko has the most experience and worked hard over the summer to learn more about what he can do on the golf course,” Terry said. “If he can ease into the tournament with limited expectations and not worry about where he finishes, he will be fine. He has the skills to play well, but he has to stay grounded and just play.”

Thommesen played in two events during the 2010-11 season and had a low round of 78. Thompson played in three events and had two round at or below par out of nine in competition.

“Both sophomores had a good summer,” Terry said. “I am looking for some good play from Thompson. He can be a steady player for us, a lot like Ricky. He needs to go out and hit the ball well and just ease into the season.

“Thommesen tied Casko in qualifying and is playing very well right now. It is the best I have seen him play. I am excited about what I have seen from him so far. His game has improved from last year.”

The two freshmen are among four true freshmen on the Troy roster for this season.

“Both of the freshmen come in with a lot of tournament experience,” Terry said. “They both played a ton over the summer and are very talented. Just like the girls, they have to realize that it is just 18 holes. They just need to go play and learn from the experience.”

Like on the women's side, the East Carolina men enter the Program Challenge on the par-72, 7,126-yard True Blue Golf Course as the top-ranked team coming off last season. The Pirates finished last year ranked 40th in the nation.

Other top 100 men's teams are UNC Wilmington (54), Central Arkansas (77), Jacksonville State (89) and Campbell (90).

Terry said that he will be keeping an eye on one team in particular during the tournament.

“We are always going to be interested in seeing what Jacksonville State does,” Terry said. “You have to play the golf course and not worry about who is there but, as a coach, you always want to beat teams from your home state.”

In addition to the programs already mentioned, others in the event include James Madison, Missouri-Kansas City, Boston College and Northern Iowa.

The teams will play practice rounds on Saturday before opening tournament play on Sunday. Both teams will play single rounds on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

Troy University Athletics

Related News

Related Videos