The second annual Bearkat Classic, hosted by the Sam Houston mens golf team, will be held at the Bentwater Country Club on April 2 and 3.In addition to Sam Houstons team, nine other teams from universities throughout the southwest will compete in the tournament. These teams include Arkansas at Little Rock, Lamar, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, University of Nebraska, North Carolina-Greensboro, Southern Mississippi, Southwest Texas, Stephen F. Austin, University of Texas-San Antonio and Texas Tech, according to Craig Rex, golf coach.With two team victories for this season, the Bearkats are confident they will fare well at the only home tournament of the season. Hosting a tournament is good because it gives you home course confidence, said Doug Sintiere, team member.The Bearkats two victories this season came at the Beau Rivage College Classic on Feb. 12-13 in Gulfport, Miss. and the Nebraska Fairway Classic on Sept. 11-12.Ryan Polzin, who leads the team with a 72.7 stroke average for the season, said he feels the team may have a slight edge over the other teams.There are a couple of tricks on some holes we know because we have practiced on the course, Polzin said.Polzin has followed up his superb freshman campaign a year ago with a steady showing thus far this season. The sophomore from San Antonio won individual medalist honors at the tournament in Mississipi.Rex said the team has practiced at Bentwater a few times in the past three weeks. As a result of the practice the team has gotten on the course, the team is able to read how the condition on the course will affect their play.Hopefully, we can make more adjustments on the course, Rex said.Sinitiere said the greens have been hard lately. If they do not become too saturated, this could be another advantage to the Bearkats, according to Sinitiere. Some players may find it difficult to play on a green that is hard because they have been practicing on a course that is soft.The team is looking to do well in the Bearkat Classic so they can score more ranking points within the district they play, according to Rex. The team is ranked 10th out of 30 teams in the district, but a strong win over teams at the tournament who are also in their district could increase their ranking. The district they compete in includes all of the teams in Texas. Since the team has a 293.25 stroke average, Rex anticipates the team doing well in the Bearkat Classic. Rex said the team average is comprised of four players scores, which means the players are averaging 75 strokes or under per game.Following the Bearkat Classic, the mens golf team will travel to Laredo, Texas to compete in the Border Olympics April 5-7.
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