Jan. 22, 2015
By Matt Penland
After a successful fall season, the eighth-ranked Auburn men's golf team is set to begin the spring portion of its schedule in two weeks at the Amer Ari Invitational in Waikoloa, Hawaii, at the King's Course Feb. 5-7.
As a team, the Tigers did well in all four fall tournaments, finishing tied for third at the Carpet Capital Collegiate, second at the Primland Collegiate, second at the Sagamore Fall Preview and sixth at the US Collegiate.
"I'd say the fall went well," said sophomore All-SEC Matt Gilchrest. "We had some good team finishes. We were real close to winning. I think we had some good individual finishes.
"Spring is really where it matters, so we're looking to build on what we did, play on some different courses, some that are closer to Auburn, and of course we get to start off with the fun event in Hawaii that everyone looks forward to."
Gilchrest, currently ranked 10th nationally by Golfweek, had an impressive fall season with a team-low 70.00 stroke average with seven sub-par rounds. He had three top-4 finishes, tying for second at the Sagamore Fall Preview, tying for third at the Primland Collegiate Invitational and tied for fourth at the Carpet Capital Collegiate.
"In the game we play, it's a team, but it's really just a collection of individual scores," Gilchrest said. "I like to think if I can do my best and the team ends up with the lowest total, I did my job. I was fortunate to have a good fall, so hopefully I'll build on that in the spring. I was kind of around first place with a fourth, third and second in the fall, so hopefully I'll get to win one in the spring."
Auburn also saw strong individual performances from redshirt junior Michael Johnson, who shot a 54-hole school record 16-under with a runner-up finish at the Primland Collegiate Invitational. Senior Dan Stringfellow had a career-best co-runner-up finish with Gilchrest at the Sagamore Fall Preview after leading the first round with a career low 5-under 67. Sophomore Ryan Benton finished 10th at the Carpet Capital Collegiate.
"If you win, you always give your team the best chance to win, and that's kind of everyone's mindset when it comes to just trying to do well in the postseason events as a team," Gilchrest said.
The Tigers' last tournament of the fall wrapped up on October 19, and with the spring schedule not set to begin until February, there is quite a bit of time before major competitions. Gilchrest believes the time was used wisely.
"A lot of guys take time off to practice," Gilchrest said. "Probably half of them play, and the other half just works on different stuff. I took a little bit of a break just trying to work on everything. I think you're always trying to work on what you're not as proficient at and try to improve on those things. As a whole probably for all of us, it's the short game and mental if you had to summarize it. Those are probably the two areas of improvement for everyone."
Sixth-year head coach Nick Clinard believes his team will be ready in two weeks for the spring opener in Hawaii.
"We're a little rusty right now more than anything just because we haven't played a lot of competition, but that's pretty standard," Clinard said. "We had a couple of guys play pretty well over the break, and hopefully we'll shake some of that rust off before we leave."
Both Clinard and Gilchrest look forward to their trip to the islands.
"It's a fun event," said Clinard. "It's an event where we get some good weather and get some good practice in. It's a three day event and we get to play seven guys, too, so it's a good opportunity for them to separate themselves a little bit."
Gilchrest added, "It's probably the best field we play all year, so of course it's fun to basically get to go on vacation, but the tournament part of it is just as intense as ever."
Upon their return, the Tigers will play in the Mobile Sports Authority Invitational in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 23-24, its own Tiger Invitational presented by Jason Dufner at Grand National March 8-10, and the Schenkel Invitational in Statesboro, Ga., March 20-22. Auburn will then head to the Carolinas for consecutive tournaments with the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate in Awendaw, S.C., March 29-30, and the Gary Koch Invitational in Gastonia, N.C., April 6-7.
The SEC Championship is at Sea Island April 17-19 followed by the NCAA Regionals May 14-16 and NCAA Championship May 29-June 3 at the Concession Club in Bradenton, Fla.
With Gilchrest, Stringfellow and Johnson leading the way, the Tigers appear poised to have a very successful spring season. Clinard has given his team a challenge and believes the ability is there to achieve their goals.
"It's just a matter of developing from a mental standpoint," Clinard said. "We're very good physically, and I challenged them in the weight room. We're trying to be the best team in the country from a mentality standpoint, from self-talk to everything when it comes to mental toughness, and those are the areas we have to get better on.
"More than anything, we're just trying to get better so we can peak at the right time in April and May, and maybe have a chance to make some noise at the NCAA Championships."