By Brian Roe, Sports Writer

The No. 8 ACU golf team will open its 2003 spring golf season on Monday, March 3, at the St. Edwards Spring Invitational. The team was originally scheduled to travel to Bakersfield, Calif., to for the Bakersfield Invitational, however that tournament was canceled.

The St. Edwards Spring Invitational is one of four golf tournaments scheduled before the Lone Star Conference Tournament on April 21. If the Wildcats advance, they will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional in Florence, Ala., May 5.

The NCAA Division II Championship is scheduled on May 20 in Sunriver, Ore.

According to the Golf’s Coach Association pole, ACU is ranked eighth in the nation. The ACU golf team finished the fall season fifth in the region and ranked in the Top-20 in the nation.

Head coach Vince Jarrett said his team is ready to play. Jarrett, who is in his 17th year of coaching Wildcat golf, said depth is prominent on this year’s squad.

“This team has a whole lot of talent,” Jarrett said. “This is one of best teams I have ever had one through seven. I am looking forward to having some good tournaments and going on into the national tournament.”

The former GCAA district Coach of the Year said the top five players on his team will play in each tournament. Team members include seniors Gary Pike, Brian O’Leary, David VanRycke, Trey Rowe, Jeremy Reedy, Chris Granger, and newcomers Todd Mack, Pierre Goethals, Beau Lamothe, Brock Rutherford and Garrett McGinn.

The top five will be determined by competition in intrasquad practice tournaments. Pike, O’Leary, Mack, Goethals and VanRycke all participated in the final tournament of the fall season.

Pike was ACU’s best finisher, shooting the best in both tournaments (144 and 214). O’Leary had the best individual score of last season; shooting a 69 at the Northeastern State Invitational.