Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
LA Classics Invitational
Men's Golf team returns to action next week at Louisiana Classics
02/25/2017 | 4:49:00 | Men's Golf
The Saluki men's golf team will head south next week for the 32nd-annual Louisiana Classics tournament in Lafayette, Louisiana on Monday and Tuesday.
This will be the team's second tournament of the spring season. Southern has had plenty of time to fine-tune its game since playing in the Arizona Intercollegiate more than a month ago.Â
"As a coach, I couldn't be more excited with what I have seen from our team in the last several weeks," head coach Justin Fetcho said. "I know our team has improved quite a bit since our last time out and I am looking forward to seeing the team get out and compete again."
The Louisiana Classics field will challenge Southern. The tournament features four teams ranked in the Golfstat Top 25. Illinois is the No. 3 team in the nation, LSU and Texas A&M are No. 13 and No. 14, and Kent State is No. 22.Â
"Any time you have the opportunity to tee it up against a team that is Top 5 in the country as well as several other Top 25 programs, you get to find out a lot about yourself," Fetcho said. "If we can believe in ourselves and stay patient this week, then it will be a great week." Â
Illinois has been dominant at the Louisiana Classics. The Fighting Illini have won the tournament four-straight years. Texas A&M, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas – San Antonio all finished within the top five last year. Host school, Louisiana – Lafayette, was eighth.
Fetcho will take Luke Gannon, Brandon Carlson, Peyton Wilhoit, Sam Meek and Matt Greenfield to Lafayette as his five-player team. Frankie Thomas will play as an individual.Â
A strong finish this week against such a talented field would not only provide a big boost to Southern's Golfstat Ranking, but the team's confidence as well.
"This event is a great way for us to start building momentum and establishing the mindset we want for the rest of the spring," Fetcho said.
The tournament will be played at the 6,898-yard, par 72 Oakbourne Country Club in Lafayette.
Players Mentioned
