Oct. 10, 2008
RUSTON -- The Louisiana Tech Bulldog golf team will host the Squire Creek Invitational Monday and Tuesday at Squire Creek Golf Course as head coach Jean Hall looks for his team to compete against a talented 16-team field.
The tournament will start with an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Monday as the 16 teams will play 36 holes of golf before returning Tuesday morning for the third and final round at the par 72, 7,105-yard course.
This year's field consists of LA Tech, LSU, Nebraska, Louisville, Mississippi, Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Nevada, New Orleans, Southern Miss, Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Middle Tennessee and Texas Arlington.
"It's the strongest field we've ever had," Hall said. "It's strong from top to bottom. We have the two-time defending champions in Ole Miss. We have LSU who has already won a tournament this year. Middle Tennessee finished in the Top 15 in the NCAA's last year. Louisville is annually in the top 20 in the country. At least three-quarters of this field is ranked in the top 100 of the country and half are ranked in the top 50."
The defending champions of the tournament are the Ole Miss Rebels, who also captured the team title in 2005. Texas Arlington won the 2004 tournament title.
Hall's Bulldogs recorded their best finish ever in the event last year, when Tech finished third while junior Matthew Harvey returns to defend his individual title. Harvey shot a three round total of seven-under-par (209) last year to win the title, which included a round of 64.
In order for the Bulldogs to compete for this year's team title, Hall knows his team has to play better than it has through the first three tournaments of the year. Tech's best showing this fall was a ninth-place finish at the Palmer's Toyota Intercollegiate hosted by South Alabama one month ago.
"We're hoping to have a performance like we did last year (at this event)," Hall said. "Clinton Shepard shot a 65 in one round. Matthew Harvey shot a 64 and won the individual title. The entire team played well. We are planning on having a similar showing this year."
Hall said that his five-man team for this event would consist of Harvey, Shepard, Corey Bartlett, Amrith de Soysa and Cody Santone.
Shepard and Barlett have led Tech this fall with 73.75 stroke per round averages. Harvey, who is still recovering from off-season surgery, boasts a 74.63 average while Santone has a 75.5 and de Soysa a 76.0 average.
Hall said that he has received incredible feedback from the other participating teams over the years about the quality of the tournament.
"Everyone that has participated says its one of their favorite tournaments," Hall said. "We have a great golf course, great hospitality, and great food. The community has really embraced this tournament. We have over 100 amateurs that are playing in our college-am on Sunday that supports this program and the tournament."
Hall stressed that fans are encouraged to come out to the tournament Monday and Tuesday and watch some of the best college golf the nation has to offer.
