After coming up shy in the final rounds in each of its last two tournament matches, the MSU men’s golf team is looking to maintain the intensity for the final round as it prepares for this weekend’s Western Intercollegiate.
In finishing eighth out of 13 teams at April 2-3’s River Landing Intercollegiate tournament, MSU held its own, sitting in fifth place after the first two rounds, but fell three spots on the final 18 holes.
The Spartans were in fourth place out of 15 teams after day one of the Pinehurst Intercollegiate tournament in March, but fell to seventh after the third day. MSU head coach Sam Puryear said the team has been practicing hard and visually focusing on making shots to help boost the confidence level.
The Spartans have finished near the middle of the pack in their past two tournaments, but rather than worry about their final placement this weekend, the Spartans are focusing on the little things like their feel for the club and shot creativity.
“You can only worry about one thing, and that’s getting better,” senior Jack Newman said. “I think the team’s been learning that we’ve been outcome-oriented, and that we need to worry more about the process.”
The Spartans will compete in the 12-team Western Intercollegiate tournament in Santa Cruz, Calif., on Saturday and Sunday for a late-season change of scenery that the team hopes will jump-start its efforts to finish strong.
MSU was not ranked in the top 25 in either 2007 or 2008 when it won the conference title, and also wasn’t ranked last season when it finished last at last season’s Big Ten Championships. This season, the Spartans are lower in the rankings but know what it takes to make a run at the Big Ten Championships.
The Spartans’ two seniors, Newman and Andrew Ladwig, stepped up at the River Landing Intercollegiate tournament by posting top 25 finishes to lead the team.
Puryear said Newman had a great practice Monday, and that he should be in good position to raise his level of play during the last few tournaments of his college career.
Newman was the medalist at this weekend’s event in 2008 and followed up that performance with a tie for second last season. The Spartans placed fourth at the event last season.
Newman said he enjoys playing at the golf course in Santa Cruz, which has seen several golf greats pass through its greens, and that the team has been working on club drills to help prepare for the meet.
“Guys are looking forward to it — the golf course is magnificent,” Puryear said.
Almost all the Spartans’ 11 opponents this weekend hail from the West coast, with three of them currently being ranked in the top 25. No. 7 UCLA headlines the field, with No. 5 Oregon returning as the defending champions and No. 22 Oregon State also hoping to have a shot at the title.
After this weekend’s meet, the Spartans conclude regular season play with the Fossum Invitational on April 24-25 and then compete in the Big Ten Championships from April 29 to May 2.
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