BATON ROUGE — The 23rd-ranked LSU men’s golf team will host the second-annual LSU Spring Invitational beginning on Friday and running through Sunday at the University Club.
The University Club, a par-72 course with a yardage of 7,274 is LSU’s home course. Last season, in the inaugural event, the Tigers shot a 9-over par 873 to win the tournament by five strokes over Tulsa. Tulsa’s David Inglis claimed medalist honors with a 5-under 211 and will attempt to defend his title this weekend. 20 teams make up the field for the event this season, including three in-state schools. Tulane, Southeastern Louisiana and Louisiana-Lafayette will represent the state along with LSU.
The tournament will begin on Friday with the team’s teeing off at 7:36 a.m. LSU will tee off at approximately 9:20 a.m. until 9:52 a.m. The Tigers are paired with Tulsa and South Alabama for Friday’s initial round. Rounds two and three on Saturday and Sunday will tee off at the same time as Friday.
LSU will go with a lineup of senior Nathan Goulding, juniors Garrett Prather and John Humphries, true freshman Heath West and redshirt freshman Jason Horrell. The Tigers will play five individuals during the weekend. Brandon Aydlett, Neil Self, Jeff Riemann, Chip Lee and Tucker Ervin will each compete as individuals. Goulding, LSU’s lone senior, has been on a tear of late. The Cohuna, Australia, native leads the team with three top-10 finishes, a 72.1 stroke average, and has seen action in six of LSU’s seven tournaments this season. Goulding led LSU to the team title at the Gator Invitational on Feb. 10 by tying for second place at 6-under par. He fired a 2-over 218 at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship on Feb. 18-19 to finish tied for 10th.
West is second on the team behind Goulding with a 72.4 stroke average. He has two top-20 finishes and one finish in the top 10. West finished eighth at the Gator by shooting a 1-under 209.
LSU is coming off of a seventh-place finish at the Mercedes-Benz, and looks to win its second tournament of the season. LSU previously hosted the Country Club of Louisiana Intercollegiate back in October, but finished fifth, six shots behind champion Alabama-Birmingham.
“We need to get all five of our guys playing well in this tournament, that is our main goal,” said LSU head coach Greg Jones. “We want to play consistent golf and try to get some momentum heading down the stretch.”
There are several intriguing stories related to the tournament this weekend. Tulsa head coach Bill Brogden was head coach in Baton Rouge for five years and won 11 tournaments. South Alabama is a member of the 2002 field, the school where LSU head coach Greg Jones was head man for six seasons before coming to LSU.
LSU will next travel to the Conrad Rehling Invitational at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on March 15-17.
2002 Field: LSU, Arkansas State, Central Florida, UNC-Charlotte, College of Charleston, Jacksonville State, Kansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Mississippi State, Oral Roberts, Rhode Island, South Alabama, South Florida, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas-Arlington, Troy State, Tulane, Tulsa