Sunshine and clear skies in Albuquerque, N.M., could help the Arizona men’s golf team refocus after last weekend’s lackadaisical performance in the rain.
The 53rd-annual William H. Tucker Intercollegiate Tournament begins today at the New Mexico Championship Course. The 54-hole event begins at 6:30 a.m. on the par-72, 7,350-yard course. Arizona plays 36 holes today, followed by a closing third round of 18 tomorrow morning.
“”I expect us to get better,”” said UA head coach Rick LaRose. “”I expect everyone to make some improvements. We want to play as good as we can to compete for the championship, and if we play well we can do it.””
The team looks to improve from last weekend’s disappointing performance at the Purdue Midwest Shootout. Arizona finished in ninth place after rain shortened the tournament to 18 holes.
I expect us to get better. I expect everyone to make some improvements. We want to play as good as we can to compete for the championship, and if we play well we can do it.
– Rick LaRose, UA men’s golf head coach
This weekend’s weather for tournament calls for sunny skies and 90-degree temperatures, according to www.weather.com.
Redshirt senior Creighton Honeck said the team’s care-free, laid-back attitude last week has no place this weekend.
“”It’s been real professional,”” he said. “”There’s not a whole lot of joking around, and I feel like that’s going to help us get better.””
Arizona’s squad will consist of Honeck, junior Tyler Neal and freshmen Andrew Kelly, Tarquin MacManus and Roberto Galletti. Senior Trey Denton and junior Nicholas Park, both making season debuts, will represent the Wildcats in individual play.
A solid week of practicing on courses with landscapes similar to New Mexico’s gives the tournament an at-home feel.
“”This course especially relates to the course we practice on in Tucson,”” Honeck said. “”I think it’s one of the main reasons why we can adapt to it so well. We absolutely need that in the tournament.””
Honeck said he hopes to begin the round with a good start to avoid last-minute pressure comebacks.
“”We’re fired up to go out there and bounce back from our horrific start,”” Honeck said. “”We have (last week) under our belt, and it’s out of our way.””
Arizona joins 14 other teams at the event, in which a strong outing could help both team morale and confidence.
“”It’s very important we have a strong showing here,”” Honeck said. “”We know we’re one of the best teams. Now we just have to go out there and play like we can and play like our ability.””
