2008 Woodie Awards
Youth, experience to drive golf 'Cats
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
It's tee time again! The Southwest Baptist golf team will feature a blend of youth and experience when they open their 2007 spring season this weekend. Four juniors, two sophomores and four freshmen make up this year's team which is led by junior Clay Brandenburgh, one of two Bearcat golfers to compete in NCAA Division II Super Regionals in 2006.
"We have a young team this year with a lot of talent," said Brandenburgh. "We are quite capable of being one of the MIAA's upper echelon teams if we play to our potential."
Coming off three consecutive sixth place finishes in the MIAA, the 'Cats will look to improve their conference standing in 2007 at the annual MIAA Tournament, which will be played April 23-24 at the Branson Creek Golf Club in Hollister, an 18-hole par-71 course.
The 'Cats will have an opportunity to play on that same course this Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11 in the Drury Battle-of-the-Creek Invitational, SBU's first spring season meet.
"We will see several MIAA teams at this meet," said Brandenburgh. "There will be some good competition there, and we will have a chance to play on the same course that the MIAA Championships will be played on later this year."
Following their season-opening meet, the 'Cats will face another challenge when they take on Washburn, the defending MIAA Champion, in March 26-27 multi-team meet in Topeka, Kansas.
In addition to his accomplishments on the golf links, Brandenburgh was also named to the MIAA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll last season, along with returning junior twin teammates Adam and Jared Lotz.
Other players returning to this year's team are sophomores Tony Melton and Matt Hefley.
Along with their five returning players, the 'Cats have five newcomers on the squad. Junior Garrett Smith, a junior college transfer, and the freshmen foursome of Brad Nipper, Chad McCoy, Dusty Miller and Justin Sellin make up half of the 'Cats 10-player roster. Despite the team's youth, Brandenburgh says everyone on the roster has the potential to make an immediate impact.
"This team has a lot of depth," said Brandenburgh. "We have players that can step up and sub in as needed to where we wouldn't skip a beat."
One newcomer that has already stepped up is Nipper. At the 'Cats own SBU Invitational, Sept. 18-19, Nipper carded SBU's lowest individual score and placed ninth overall in the multi-team meet.
"This is the best team we've had since my freshman year," said Brandenburgh. "We went to nationals that year as a team, and I think we can get back there this year."
"We have a young team this year with a lot of talent," said Brandenburgh. "We are quite capable of being one of the MIAA's upper echelon teams if we play to our potential."
Coming off three consecutive sixth place finishes in the MIAA, the 'Cats will look to improve their conference standing in 2007 at the annual MIAA Tournament, which will be played April 23-24 at the Branson Creek Golf Club in Hollister, an 18-hole par-71 course.
The 'Cats will have an opportunity to play on that same course this Saturday and Sunday, March 10-11 in the Drury Battle-of-the-Creek Invitational, SBU's first spring season meet.
"We will see several MIAA teams at this meet," said Brandenburgh. "There will be some good competition there, and we will have a chance to play on the same course that the MIAA Championships will be played on later this year."
Following their season-opening meet, the 'Cats will face another challenge when they take on Washburn, the defending MIAA Champion, in March 26-27 multi-team meet in Topeka, Kansas.
In addition to his accomplishments on the golf links, Brandenburgh was also named to the MIAA Commissioners Academic Honor Roll last season, along with returning junior twin teammates Adam and Jared Lotz.
Other players returning to this year's team are sophomores Tony Melton and Matt Hefley.
Along with their five returning players, the 'Cats have five newcomers on the squad. Junior Garrett Smith, a junior college transfer, and the freshmen foursome of Brad Nipper, Chad McCoy, Dusty Miller and Justin Sellin make up half of the 'Cats 10-player roster. Despite the team's youth, Brandenburgh says everyone on the roster has the potential to make an immediate impact.
"This team has a lot of depth," said Brandenburgh. "We have players that can step up and sub in as needed to where we wouldn't skip a beat."
One newcomer that has already stepped up is Nipper. At the 'Cats own SBU Invitational, Sept. 18-19, Nipper carded SBU's lowest individual score and placed ninth overall in the multi-team meet.
"This is the best team we've had since my freshman year," said Brandenburgh. "We went to nationals that year as a team, and I think we can get back there this year."
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