Men's Golf Outlook

What were some accomplishments of last year’s team?
We accomplished some good things last year. We qualified for our 6th straight national tournament and spent the majority of the year ranked around the top ten in the country. I believe those are accomplishments that our players should be proud of. However, going into the year we had some high expectations, and we just missed out on a few of those goals. We really wanted to win the conference tournament for the outgoing seniors, but we ended up finishing second. Also, we would have liked to finish better at nationals, but some things just didn’t go our way.

What players stepped up last season?
We were looking for players who would step up when it mattered most last season. For us, the critical time is the national tournament. If I am correct, Josh Lawson ended up with the best individual finish at the National Tournament in the history of Lee University golf. He fell one shot short of the all tournament team and finished in 17th place. He really stepped up his game. What better time to do it a your last collegiate event? I was really happy that Josh got to go out on such a positive note.

Were you pleased with the way the squad performed this fall?
I thought we had a very good fall season. In college golf the fall season is all about putting yourself in good position for the spring, and I think we accomplished that. We will be ranked #5 heading into the spring, which is the highest ranking we have ever had. I have to give the guys on our team a lot of credit because our fall success is a direct result of all the hard work they put in over the summer. But, like I tell the guys, if we finish the season ranked #50 then who cares where we were ranked back in December? We have some big goals this season, so we can’t be content with where we are until it’s all over. We had two wins in our four tournaments. It was great to get some winning experience, especially with a young team. The thing I was happiest about from the fall was our consistency as a team. We didn’t have any of those rounds that made me want to pull my hair out. Also, in some of our fall rounds we got off to bad starts, but the guys held it together and showed a lot of mental toughness. From the fall I learned that we have great depth and consistency.

What players stepped up this fall?
It would be tough to pinpoint any one person from the fall season. Certainly we have statistical leaders, but I really thought everyone on the team stepped up at some point to contribute in a big way. I was happy with the leadership that we got from Sam Bedwell, and I expect that to continue. All in all, I think our entire team stepped up in the fall. We are all looking forward to the spring.

What key players did you lose from last year’s team?
We lost the bulk of our team last year. Josh Lawson was a major part of Lee Golf for the past four years. He finished 17th at the national tournament, which is the top individual finish ever for a Lee golfer. He was also selected All-Region. MJ Daffue was only with us one year, but he was a second team All-American and was also selected All-Region. He led us in scoring average and overall had a good year. Wes Nobles had a great senior year, in which he was selected All-Region. He is another player who has been a big part of the program for the past four years.
Matt Clouse was our Champion of Character last year, and he is one of those guys that is just a big time competitor. He was great for our team, and he has had a lot to do with programs success over the last four years.
As you can tell, we knew we were going to have a lot of production to replace heading into this year. I almost feel like we are starting a new era of Lee golf because the players we lost have been the foundation of the program for four years. Now, we are going to have to replace that.

What key players are returning from last year’s team?
Sam Bedwell comes into this year as our most experienced golfer. He has now participated in two national tournaments. I also believe that Sam has a good understanding of our team goals. Sam had a great summer. He was named Player of the Year in Chattanooga, and he won two big tournaments: the Men’s Metro and the Chattanooga TPC. More important than his performance on the course is how much of a leadership role Sam assumes. He sets the tone, making this year his opportunity to lead the team the correct way. Caleb Roberson returns this year after competing in the national tournament during his freshmen year. Caleb had a very good summer as well, placing well in big events such as the Spirit of America golf tournament. Caleb has a lot of natural ability and has shown flashes of being a great player. It is up to Caleb to work hard and become a more consistent player. Taylor Huse had a solid freshmen season, and I know that he has worked very hard over the summer to be ready for his sophomore season. Taylor played in every event for us in the fall and is very important to this team’s success. Jeremy Lawson is very dedicated and does a great job of leading by example. Anytime he is in the line-up, he performs. During the fall he played in the Chik-Fil-A Intercollegiate and had two very solid rounds of 74-72. Also, I want to mention Brad Gardner. Brad is a very hard worker and someone who brings a lot to this team. He is one of only two upperclassmen, and his work ethic and attitude are great motivation for his teammates. Brock Rush redshirted last year, so I am excited to see what he brings to the table now that he is competing.

What key recruits have been added to the team this year?
I was very happy when Tyler Smith decided to join the program here at Lee. Smith was recruited by several NCAA Division I schools, so his decision to join the program here was a big one. We recruited Tyler Smith with the intention that he would have an immediate impact on our program. Tyler had an exceptional junior career, so he is quite experienced for a freshman. I expect big things from Tyler during his time here at Lee.
Tyler Hollister was our first signee for the class of 2009, and he actually committed almost a year before he started school here. As soon as we started recruiting Hollister, it was obvious that it was going to be a great fit for both sides. All you need to know about Tyler is that he tied for first in his first collegiate tournament back in the fall. Most freshmen are happy just to qualify to play in their first tournament, so for him to go out and tie for first is quite impressive. He is a big-time competitor and will be a big part of our future success.
Steven Locke is a local kid who I had been hearing about ever since I became the coach here. He has great length off the tee and an ability to make a lot of birdies. As Steven gains more competitive experience and learns how to control his game, he is going to be a tremendous player. I am very excited to watch Steven’s development as a player.
JB Eksteen comes to us from South Africa and brings a great deal of tournament experience. He fits in well with our team and has a chance to have a big impact. JB’s experience and ball striking will be a plus for our team. I have high hopes for JB as we approach the spring season.

What are some strengths of this year’s club?
The biggest strength of this club is our depth. We have a deep pool of players, and it makes our practices and qualifiers very competitive. Our guys know that they have to earn the playing time that they get and, because of that, I think it makes us a tougher team. It is a great feeling knowing that we have a large amount of guys who could contribute at any tournament.
After the fall season I would say that another strength of this club is our consistency. What separates this team from last year’s team is its consistency. This year we did not have any really high team rounds. I think our worst team score was a 304, which happened to be on the toughest courses we play. We had some rounds in which we got off to bad starts, but everyone stepped up and kept us at the top of the leader board. I believe that for us to accomplish our goals this will have to be our calling card.

What are some areas that the team must improve on?
We must always remain committed to improving our decision making. In our sport everyone is going to make mistakes. Therefore, the team that can make the fewest over the course of a tournament is more often than not going to be the team that wins. We do a pretty good job of this, but it is something that you can never be satisfied with. Our guys have to take pride in out-thinking opposing players and teams.
The short game is another area that you can never be satisfied with. The better our short games are, the more pressure it takes off of other areas. The majority of our practice time is dedicated to wedge play, chipping, and putting. Improved short game can have the most immediate effect on improving scores, so we are always trying to work on this area. For the most part, our guys understand this and do their best to work hard in this area.

What are your thoughts on being ranked #5 in the pre-season?
Well, our pre-season poll is different than most sports because ours actually reflects performance. Our pre-season polls are based on our performance in the fall. Being ranked #5 should tell our guys that the things we are doing are working. Many of the players on our team worked hard over the summer, so earning such a high ranking should be validation of that hard work. However, our accomplishments in the fall do not guarantee any success whatsoever in the spring. We must continue to work hard and never be satisfied. With that being said, I am proud of the job our players are doing. Being ranked #5 puts us in great position heading into the spring.

What are the ways to gain entry into NAIA National Tournament?
There are two ways to earn a berth to the NAIA National Tournament. The first is to gain an automatic berth. This can be accomplished by winning the end of the year conference tournament. Due to some changes in our conference this year, we will be competing for an automatic berth in an unaffiliated group, which means that we have combined with some other conferences.
The second way to gain entry into the national tournament is through an at-large bid. Usually if you are ranked in the top 15-20 in the national rankings and don’t win your conference tournament, then you will receive an at-large bid. Last year, we were ranked #14 in the country and did not win the conference tournament, so we received an at-large bid instead.
The ideal situation is that you go into the conference ranked high enough nationally that you don’t have to win your last tournament in order to go. That should allow you to relax and play your best at the conference tournament. One of our main goals each year is to win the conference tournament.

What are the top tournaments that the team will play in this spring?
I am really excited about the men’s schedule this spring. We have a very challenging line-up of events, but it is really going to let us know where we stand. I also think it is set-up to prepare us well for the national tournament.
Our biggest tournament will probably be the UST Intercollegiate hosted by Texas Wesleyan. We will see several top 25 teams at this event, including current #1 Oklahoma City University and last year’s National Champion, Oklahoma Christian. We don’t often get a chance to see teams from the Mid-West, so this will be a great opportunity for us to compete against some of the best teams from there.
Another big tournament will be the NAIA Classic. This is annually one of the best NAIA tournaments in the country and will include a large amount of top 25 teams. As with the Texas tournament, we get a chance to see teams from a different part of the country. This kind of exposure should be beneficial once the national tournament rolls around.
We are very fortunate to be able to travel to so many different places, and I think our guys are appreciative of that opportunity.