The Ohio men's golf team is in Westerville this weekend as they look to bring home their first Mid-American Conference title in a quarter century.
The Bobcats have finished in second place at the MAC Championships in two of the past three years, including last season. Looking to feed off the confidence they gained last week at Penn State, the golfers are anxious for the conference tournament.
We're coming off a good week
Ohio coach Bob Cooley said. It's going to take good smart play to win.
The tournament will be played at The Medallion Club in Westerville, which has three separate 9-hole courses. This weekend the teams will be playing both the Rookery and the Meadows courses.
The Bobcat players said that their tee shots will be important and also mentioned that the course has quite a few water hazards.
Ohio will be lead by last week's MAC Golfer of the Week, Mark Cimarolli. Joining him will be Blake Russell, Ryan Siekmann, Brian Elsea and Jon Johasky. Four of the five players competed in this event last year, so the team is familiar with the course, which coach Cooley said will undoubtedly help them.
Another helpful factor for the players this weekend is that their adrenaline will be pumping a little more than normal, because they consider this to be the biggest tournament of the year.
We played really well last year at this tournament and it's the conference tournament
so if you aren't excited
there's something wrong with you
Siekmann said.
Last year, the Bobcats were nine strokes off the pace of tournament champions, the University of Toledo, who they see as some of the toughest competition once again this year.
We have an excellent chance
Cimarolli said. Of course Toledo and Kent State will obviously be contenders
but I think we have a good chance. I know we can play with those teams. It's all about who wants it the most.
Although the Bobcats are obviously looking for a tournament victory, the players said that as long as they finish in the top three, the weekend will be a success.
The 72-hole event kicked off on Thursday and will continue through Friday and Saturday. Through the first 36 holes the Bobcats are tied for sixth place overall with Akron and Bowling Green.
17
Archives
