ACU’s golf team will kick off this year’s season at the Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate tournament next week here in Abilene.
The ‘Cats were recently ranked No. 1 in the coaches polls, and they are looking forward to the tournament as way to show that they deserve their recently attained status. Coach Mike Campbell is excited for the season to begin, and is looking forward to what each player will bring to the team as a whole to this tournament.
Coach Campbell will be placing two teams of five into the tournament, allowing ACU to be represented well. Also, in preparation for next week, the golf team has been busy playing to qualify. Campbell says that is the best form of practice the players can get.
“NCAA rules limit our days of practice, so we are very careful of when we practice together as team,” Campbell said. “Qualifying has been our best form of preparation to remain where we want to be going into this tournament.”
Junior Alex Carpenter explained the work that went into preparing for the tournament.
“We had to figure out the first and second team for the season, and it’s got everyone working hard,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter certainly hopes to do well this tournament, and said that he is happy with the way he’s played in the qualifying rounds. Winning 12 times last year, he definitely has the potential to be successful next week.
“The last couple of years, I’ve had certain expectations, and I haven’t played as well in this tournament as I would have liked,” Carpenter said. “I decided this year to lower my expectations going into it, and see how things go.”
Coach Campbell is excited to see how well the team will continue to become after this week.
“We had a tremendous year last year, and with many returning veterans and a good mix of new players, I have high expectations that we will be competing for a title this year,” Campbell said. “I can’t wait to get this season kicked off.”
The tournament is named for Billy Charles Coody, who once played golf at ACU. When he was a senior, Coody won the Senior PGA Tour (now known as the Champions Tour) five times. He then began his professional career in 1963 and won on the PGA Tour three times. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 and played on the U.S. Ryder Cup team in 1971. He is best known for winning the 1971 Masters Tournament, and was one of the most well-known and appreciated professional golfers of his time. In honor of this alumni’s success, ACU hosts the tournament in his name annually.
The Abilene Christian University Charles Coody West Texas Intercollegiate Golf Tournament will take place Monday, September 12 through Wednesday September 14 at the DiamondBack Golf Club in Abilene.
