By Cari Griggs, Senior Staff Writer
The OCU golf teams seasons have begun and players and coaches are preparing for upcoming tournaments.
The men’s and women’s teams each have different goals, but one goal both coaches share is to improve each day.
Marty McCauley, men’s coach, wants to live up to the precedent the team set last year.
“Our main goal is to repeat as national champions,” he said.
McCauley also has goals for the team off the golf course.
“Our academic goal is to achieve a 3.5 GPA for the team,” he said.
The team has been successful on the course.
“We have five players averaging under 73,” McCauley said. “James Marchesani, freshman, leads the entire country in all divisions in stroke average at 69.”
Junior Golfer Clark Collier is the team’s most consistent golfer, he said.
Another notable golfer, Sophomore Michael Palmer, is an all-American player.
Palmer said he wants to keep up his achievements this year.
“Last year, because I was a freshman, there were more awards I was eligible for,” he said. “But it is still important to get the all-American award this year.
“I want to achieve the same as last year, and also win a national championship.”
Palmer practices every day and spending time in the gym to meet his goals.
“The thing that helps me the most are the tournaments prior to the championship,” he said. “The more you play the better you get in terms of confidence and form.”
Kyle Blaser, women’s coach, has similar goals.
“We would like to win a conference and a national championship,” he said.
The women’s team was ranked No. 4 during the pre-season.
“We had a solid fall,” Blaser said. “Now my biggest goal is to have each player reach their full potential.”
Blaser said his strongest players are Senior Golfer Laura Jones and Senior Golfer Paige Martin.
“It would be good for both to compete and win national championships individually,” he said.
Jones said her goals are in line with the team’s and coach’s.
“To win nationals is the number one goal,” she said. “Our main goal is to get scoring average down so we can go to nationals with the confidence to win.”
To do this, Jones takes personal responsibility in her mental and physical preparation.
“I try to get in good workouts and good nutrition,” she said.
Jones takes her last year on the team seriously.
“Because my first two years here we won as a team, and we didn’t win last year, I’d really like to get another win before I leave,” Jones said.
Blaser said Sophomore Golfer Taylor Howard has made great improvements toward the end of the fall and he hopes she will continue to do so into the spring.
Both teams have encountered difficulty preparing for the season due to inclement weather.
“You hope the players are staying mentally sharp and taking care of their academics so when the weather is good we can play as much as we can,” McCauley said. “We are at liberty of mother nature.”
The teams are working to recover skills lost from time off.
“In a game like golf, the first thing to get rusty is your touch,” Blaser said.
Both teams started their spring seasons with a tournament in Arkansas on Feb. 21.
The men’s team plays in seven tournaments in Texas, Louisiana, Nevada, and other parts of Oklahoma. The National Tournament will be hosted at Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
“We don’t have any home events which makes it hard on the kids and their academics,” McCauley said.
The women’s team will play in two NCAA Division 1 tournaments this year.
“I feel this will prepare them to compete for the National Championship,” he said.
The women’s team will travel to tournaments in Nevada and Texas.
They will play a tournament in Oklahoma City at the Quail Springs Country Club. National championships will be in Greeneville, Tenn.
For a complete schedule of both team’s tournaments, visit ocusports.com.
This article initially appeared in the March 2 issue of The Campus newspaper.
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