KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — The LSU men’s golf team will open its 2001-02 season at the Cleveland Golf/Kiawah Island Intercollegiate Monday at Kiawah Island, S.C.
LSU is beginning its season at the Cleveland Intercollegiate for the second consecutive year. The College of Charleston will host the 2001 event at Osprey Point Golf Club.
In 2000, LSU finished third, shooting an 11-over 875. Alabama won the title by shooting a 5-over 869. Fourteen teams will join the Tigers in South Carolina for the two-day tournament.
LSU’s lineup for the tournament will feature two freshman, two juniors, and one senior.
LSU’s lone senior is Nathan Goulding, a native of Cohuna, Australia. Goulding made an immediate impact for the Tigers last season after transferring from Midland Junior College. Goulding played in nine tournaments, totaling 27 rounds. He shot par or better in 11 of 27 rounds, and had two top-10 finishes.
The juniors are Crowley, La., native Garrett Prather and John Humphries from Woodworth, La.
Prather participated in eight tournaments in 2000-01 and had one top-10 finish. He had five rounds of par or better. Humphries developed into one of the most consistent players in the country last season as a sophomore. Humphries played in 12 of 13 tournaments, posting a 73.2 stroke average and 15 rounds of par or better. He had two top-10 finishes as well.
Humphries was named to the 2001 All-Southeastern Conference Second team, and to the 2001 Academic All-SEC Team. He was also a member of the 2001 LSWA All-Louisiana squad. Redshirt Freshman Neil Self, from Florence, Ala., will make his LSU debut Monday, as will true freshman Heath West of Dothan, Ala.
“I am expecting Heath to really step up and play well for us”, said third-year head coach Greg Jones. “I think this tournament is a good opportunity for these guys to get some experience and show they can play well at this level.”
LSU is without seven players who were on the team last season. Billy Dressler, Alan Morgan and Craig Taylor all graduated. Mark Schultz, a sophomore, and David Elmore, a freshman, transferred to Texas Tech and Georgia Southern respectively. Damon Julian and Michael Beckers both left the team for personal reasons. LSU has two true freshman in addition to West. Adam Swope, a native of Wesley Chapel, Fla., and Tucker Ervin, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C. will add depth and talent to a young LSU team.
“We want to play consistent golf, and shoot some low scores,” Jones said. “We want to get an evaluation of where we are right now.”
LSU finished the 2000-01 season with three tournament victories, the school’s most since the 1995-96 season. The Tigers also went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998. The Tigers earned a bid to the 2001 NCAA East Regional at Williamsburg, Va. The Tigers finished in a tie for 19th place there. LSU also attained a national ranking in 2000-01, its first in several seasons. The Tigers were ranked as high as 14th in March. The Tigers finished the season in the nation’s top 30.
The Tigers will have nearly a month-long break following the tournament in South Carolina. LSU will not play again until the Adams Cup Oct. 2-3 at Newport, R.I.
The Cleveland Golf Intercollegiate runs through Tuesday. Osprey Point is a par-72 course. Its yardage is 6,871.