The courses the men's and women's golf teams tackle this week may have more to do with their scores than how they actually play.
The men start play in Cincinnati today, competing in the Xavier Invitational facing the toughest field they have seen this year, and possibly the toughest they will face all fall, Ohio coach Bob Cooley said.
The field is solid, but the fact that nearly all the teams are returning to the tournament from a year ago makes the competition that much tougher, Cooley said.
Cooley said familiarity with the course is a huge advantage in golf, and the untried course could pose problems for the Bobcats.
Rust could also prevent the men from jumping out to a fast start. It's been almost a month since the team finished third at the Piper Intercollegiate in Bowling Green, but junior Ryan Siekmann is not worried about the layoff.
I don't think it will hurt us
Siekmann said. It's not our normal routine of week to week tournaments which is OK because lots of us have been swamped with school but we are also sick of just practicing and want to go out and actually beat someone.
Siekmann said the rust and course could impact their play at the beginning of the tournament, but the key to winning is how they finish.
The team just needs four scores at par or better and we will compete with a lot of people
Siekmann said. The last score sometimes bites us with like a 75 or something.
The women kick off their tournament, dubbed The Shootout at The Legends, today in Franklin, Ind. Like the men, the course and competition will be pivotal in deciding where the Bobcats finish in the final standings.
It's probably the strongest field we will face all year
assistant coach Jeff Hetler said.
As for the course, it is not totally foreign to the team. Senior Julie Tomlinson lives in nearby Noblesville, Ind., and has played at The Legends several times.
I need Julie to play well
Hetler said. She knows the course.
Other than Tomlinson's leadership, damage control is important in keeping the team's score down.
We just need to stay away from big numbers on holes
Hetler said. Pars and bogeys and nothing worse
and we'll be fine.
Tomlinson also stressed patience and consistency and said her knowledge of the course and her record-breaking performance last weekend gives her confidence heading into play.
I have a lot of confidence in myself and in my teammates right now
Tomlinson said. I think as long as we stay in our games and hit fairways and greens
we will all play well.
