JBU Men’s Golf team is gearing up for the SAC Tournament April 23-24 in Lubbock, TX.
They finished 10th out of 11 teams at their most recent tournament at Southwest Christian University April 9-10.
The Eagles were without the services of West Loveland, who led the team all season and was the first JBU golfer to ever win a tournament outright.
He was out because of an important test that conflicted with the tournament.
Coach Brian Thomas decided to use the last tournament before the SAC tournament to get some experience for some of his newer players.
“We didn’t do as well as we could have, but I was the first tournament for a few of our players,” said Thomas, “It was kind of a learning experience.”
The Eagles’ efforts were further hampered by the fact that the team had never played at the course, Lake Hefner Golf Course in Oklahoma City, and
were not able to play a practice round due to the Easter holiday.
The Eagles will have to greatly improve their play if they want their season to continue, though.
Both the winning team and the player with the best finish at the SAC Tournament win an automatic berth to the national tournament.
Therefore, the conference tournament represents the unranked golf team’s last and only chance to make the National Tournament.
According to coach Thomas, the tournament will be a tough challenge for the team.
The SAC is home to the top two teams nationally, Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma City, as well as six of the top 25 teams.
Even though the team as a whole is most likely a long shot to win, West Loveland is a legitimate contender to win the tournament.
“Last year, he led the field after one day,” said coach Thomas, “The tough thing is putting three good rounds together.”
If he is able to win, West will qualify for the national tournament, becoming the first JBU golfer to do so.
The Tournament will be at The Rawls Golf Course in Lubbock, TX, which is the home course of the Texas Tech golf teams.
It is another course that JBU’s team has not yet had a chance to play on, but the Eagles do plan on traveling down to Lubbock early to get a couple of practice rounds in.