By Chandler Harris, Assistant Sports Editor

The golf team is preparing for the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament in Thackerville, Okla., on Monday and Tuesday. The team will conclude qualifying rounds Friday, and the top five Wildcats will make the trip to compete.

“Going by records, we are pretty solid to go to regionals,” head coach Mike Campbell said. “We are looking pretty good.”

The team currently is ranked fifth in the region as the top 10 teams will advance to the NCAA Division II South Central/Midwest Super Regional Tournament in Allendale, Mich., on May 4-6. The winner of the LSC Championship Tournament will earn an automatic berth to the regional tournament.

The LSC tournament will be played over two days with 36 holes Monday and 18 holes Tuesday.

“We need to come out strong on the first day and have a good start,” Campbell said. “Hopefully, the momentum of the first 36 holes will carry us and put us in a position so that we can win. That first day will be a long day with 36 holes to be played.”

Campbell is counting on the experience of the team’s two seniors, Patrick Hanuer and Hilton Funk, to carry it at the conference tournament.

“Patrick and Hilton have been through this time of year before and know how important these tournaments are,” Campbell said.

Campbell said Cyril Bouniol also will be one of the team leaders in the upcoming tournaments.

“Basically at the Dallas Baptist tournament, I thought we played well,” Campbell said. “At the UCO tournament, we had bad weather on the first day and didn’t play to our capabilities.”

All 10 schools in the LSC with golf programs will compete at the LSC Championship Tournament at the WinStar Golf Course.

ACU is ranked No. 27 in the most recent Nike/Golf World NCAA Division II poll, while LSC opponent Central Oklahoma is ranked third in the nation.