Murray State University Athletics
Racers Confident Going Into OVC Championship
4/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sooner or later Murray State men's golf coach Eddie Hunt is going to take an experienced, veteran team to the Ohio Valley Conference Championships. This won't be the year, however.
Still, Hunt and his Racer golf team feel confident heading into this week's OVC Championship in Paducah, despite playing with a lineup which includes three sophomores and two freshmen.
"We've got the team to win the tournament," Hunt said, "if we play to our potential."
Eleven teams will begin play on Monday at Paducah Country Club. The three-day, 54-hole championship will conclude on Wednesday.
"Jacksonville State has been the best team all year and Eastern Kentucky has had a good year," Hunt explained. "And, I think we've had a good spring with three different kids winning tournaments."
This spring, the Racers have posted five top-five finishes in six tournaments, including two championships. MSU's lowest finish was a 10th-place showing in the 18-team Geico Direct Spring Invitational.
Though the Racers don't have a single player in the OVC's top 10 in scoring average per round, the Racers have had three golfers win individual titles at the six tournaments they competed in this spring. Sophomores Kyle Shirley and Jamie Frazier, as well as true freshman Nicolas Griffin all won individual titles this spring and Shirley and Griffin rank in the OVC's top 16 in average scores per round.
"Our strength is that we have a pretty solid team from top to bottom," the second-year head coach said. "That gives you a shot for someone to shoot a really low score at any time."
A year ago, the young Racers, which included four freshmen and a senior, took third in the OVC Championship with then-freshman Will Cox placing fifth and earning All-OVC honors. Hunt said this year's team should be better prepared for the pressure-packed event.
"It's a three-day tournament on a very tough course, so the best team will win it," said Hunt. "The thing you have to do is stay in the hunt and see what happens on the last day."
