Spartan Golf Teams Set For Sea Trail Intercollegiate
9/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Sept. 18, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's golf teams are set to tee it up this weekend at the Sea Trail Intercollegiate, marking the first and tournament this year that both teams will participate in the same location.
Both teams will begin play Friday at the Sea Trail Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C. Both the men's and women's events are three-day, 54-hole events that will end Sunday. The men's team will participate on the 6,761-yard, par-72 Jones Course, while the women's team will play the 5,947-yard, par-72 Byrd Course.
Both teams enter the tournament with a week of tournament experience under their belts. The men's team finished second out of 24 teams at the Rutgers Invitational last week. The women's team finished in a tie for ninth out of 22 teams at the Great Smokies Collegiate which concluded Tuesday. The Spartans will look to continue their solid play in the Sea Trail Intercollegiate. The men's team finished fifth out of 19 teams in last year's tournament, while the women's team was eighth out of 15 teams.
"Moving forward, there is no lack of confidence with either team," said Upstate head coach Todd Lawton. "I think both teams need to make the adjustments to a totally different course. Both teams played cold weather surfaces in colder conditions in their first tournament. Now we are playing a course on the coast with warm weather turf and conditions. If we make the adjustments, we will do well."
The men's team will have to rally together to overcome the absence of standout golfer Josh Gallman who will miss the tournament. Gallman won the individual championship at Sea Trail last year, his first of four titles on the year. He committed in advance of the finalization of the golf schedule to be in the wedding of a close friend this weekend. Without Gallman in the lineup, Upstate will rely on the leadership of veterans Baxter Culler, Michael Lawrence, Jamie Lightsey and Tyler Tucker, all of whom participated in the Sea Trail Intercollegiate a year ago. Culler finished in a tie for 13th at last year's event with a 4-under total, while Lawrence claimed a tie for 30th at 1-over. Joining the veterans in the lineup will be freshman Bryan Otis who had a strong showing at the Rutgers Invitational, finishing at even-par and in a tie for 11th.
"While I think we have some very strong players, we will certainly miss Josh," said Lawton. "Our other players have shown they can play and shoot good scores, but when you take a player like Josh out of the lineup, it definitely has an effect. But, the guys who will be at the tournament have proven they can win tournaments and shoot good scores. They are more than capable of making the shots and I am looking for another good week from the team."
The women's team will also rely on its veterans in this year's tournament, as well as assistant coach Sandy Halkett. Halkett is in her first season as assistant coach at Upstate and has been key in the Spartans' solid start this season. Audrey Church, Richelle Wedzik, Richia Wedzik and Jessica Wofford all played in the tournament a year ago, while fellow senior Julie Miller will bring her leadership and experience to the tournament for the first time. At the Great Smokies Collegiate, Upstate broke the single-round school record in both rounds, first shooting a record 301 in the first round Monday and followed with a record 299 Tuesday.
"They are so excited about playing again, coming off our best tournament ever a few days ago," said Lawton. "Their camaraderie has never been this good, which is very exciting. We are seeing tremendous leadership and I believe that will continue this weekend. Coach Halkett has had a tremendous impact on the team and will lead them well."
