The ACU golf team is wrapping up its first season of Div. I. competition with the conference tournament next week. The Wildcats will look to continue their hot streak in McKinney against their Southland Conference opponents next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The team has spent the past month rebounding from a poor start to the spring season. Rough outings in Cabo, Mexico and Little Rock, Ark., is not what head coach Mike Campbell anticipated for the spring season.
Still, the ‘Cats remained resilient. Junior Corbin Renner really began to hit the ball well, grabbing two top 10 finishes. Senior Trey Sullivan continued his consistent play, finishing in the top half of every tournament. Freshman Robert Johnson has stepped up recently, leading the team to a seventh place finish at Louisiana-Monroe.
The top half of the Wildcat squad will have to shoot low to carry the team. Campbell is still looking for consistency as the back half of his team. Sophomore Kaden Walters and freshman Kyle Karnei stepped up in the most recent tournament where ACU finished 10th.
“Corbin and Trey have done a great job of leading our team all spring,” Karnei said. “The rest of us just want to step up and follow their example.”
Production from the three, four and five slots is essential for the Wildcats to be competitive at conference. Renner and Sullivan will shoot low, but how the rest of the team shoots will determine where ACU will finish.
“Expectations are out the window,” Renner said. “We are just trying to go out there and put together three good rounds.”
The Wildcats already have some experience against a few of their Southland rivals this spring, but they are playing at a higher level now.
The team has already started qualifying for conference. Renner and Sullivan are exempt because of their consistency and production throughout the year. Meanwhile, Johnson, Karnei, Walters and Junior Luke Carpenter battle for the three remaining spots.