After team qualifying this week, the five players who will travel to the season opener will be senior J.R. Wade, sophomore Willie Daniel, junior Patrick Williams, sophomore Charlie Gibson and Beddies. Williams led the way during qualifying with a seven-under par for the 72 holes.

"Our qualifying scores this year were far better than the ones we had a year ago," head coach Johnny Moore said. "We're not playing the caliber of courses we will play this fall, but when you are under par that is very encouraging. In the final day of qualifying at Indian Hills on Tuesday we registered a 68, three 70s and a 71 to have six players shoot under par. I will take that any day."

The improved scores were attributed to an offseason program that included weight training and a lot of playing. Strength coach Matt Riley worked extensively with the Blue Raiders this year and they returned to campus in the best shape of their lives. The players also benefited by competing against some top-notch competition in numerous tournaments around the southeast.

"I am proud of the way these guys have been committed to improving," Moore stated. "It has really shown on the course. Now we just have to take it into the tournaments."

The Raising Cane Classic is the first of five fall tournaments the Blue Raiders will compete in this year before continuing play in the spring. The Blue Raiders will travel to Memphis for the Hillman Robbins Memorial on Oct. 1-2, then will travel to the UTC Fall Invitational in Chattanooga Oct. 15-16. Middle Tennessee will head to Orlando, FL on Oct. 22-23 for the Rio Pinar Intercollegiate before concluding the fall season on Nov. 5-6 at the Fall Beach Classic in Gulf Shores, AL.

"The Southern Miss tournament is played on a long course, which should favor our team," Moore said. "It will be a nice early test, but I think this team is ready to compete. I am looking forward to watching them play and seeing how they respond."

Print this article

Comments