By Ryan Rogers
The LSU men’s golfers are in rare form heading into the LSU Spring Invitational this weekend. Earlier this month, LSU won the Gator Invitational hosted the University of Florida, taking the team title in a field that included 15 of the premier programs in the nation.
“It was a great win for us, it really picked up this team’s confidence,” said head coach Greg Jones. “I can’t say enough about how important it was to win the Gator Invitational.”
For their efforts, the Tigers have climbed into the Golf Digest Top 25 at No. 23.
“Every year you head into the season optimistic,” added Jones. “I’ve been waiting for my team to have a breakout tournament like this for a few years. I knew we were close. Now we are playing at a high level. Hopefully we can continue to do so for the rest of the season.”
Jones’ Tigers have left opponents awestruck with their ability to drive the ball well and shorten the course. Without question, one of the Tigers’ biggest assets is that they are a hard hitting team off the tee.
When you have the ability to drive so far, it makes it easier to critique the other aspects of your game. Golfers can concentrate more on improving their short game. It’s the golf equivalent to a baseball pitcher that can throw a 95 mph fast ball. With that kind of natural power, he can be coached more thoroughly to throw breaking balls.
Usually the finished product is a great all-around pitcher. Jones hopes for him that the finished product will be a great all-around golfer.
“It does help when you have guys who can simply hit a golf ball. They can all improve on their long game, but this team is a little further along then most.”
The Tigers got a great performance from lone senior golfer Nathan Goulding. The Australia native shot a six-under par at the Gator Invitational and was named SEC Golfer of the week for his efforts.
“Nathan (Goulding) has really been a great leader for us,” said Jones. “He’s improved his game a lot and he makes the big shots we need. At the Florida tournament he knew he had top make some puts to put us over the top and he did. It was the kind of clutch performance that good golf teams get from good players.”
This past weekend the Tigers finished seventh at the Mercedes Benz Collegiate Championship at Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Florida. It was another heavily laced field of golf powers. The Tigers didn’t win the tournament, but they got some great performances Goulding and Garrett Prather.
The Tigers were in third place after two rounds behind Goulding and Prathers three-under par 69-second rounds.
“We need to build from this tournament and take our renewed sense of confidence into future tournaments. I know we can get better. We can’t be satisfied with where we are now.”