Experience is an element that the Mississippi State men’s golf team has lacked during the previous two seasons.The team for this season, however, features a bevy of upperclassmen, and the Bulldogs hope to use that experience to their advantage as they travel to the Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point Friday to face in-state rival Ole Miss in the Magnolia Cup.
Friday’s match-up marks the third time the two schools have played one another for the cup, with Ole Miss taking home the cup in 2005 and the Bulldogs grabbing the cup last season.
Head coach Clay Homan said the squad’s experience is important and should lead to success.
“For the first time in a while, we have got experience,” Homan said. “It really makes a difference to our team.”
Friday’s six-man team will feature Josh Bevell, from Southaven, Carlos Sainz, from Elgin, Ill., Noah Goldman, a native of Longwood, Fla., Josh Oller, from Brandon, Matt Fast, a Hattiesburg native, and Logan Young of Memphis.
Goldman finished at the top of the leader board with a 3-under par at the event last season, and most of the golfers in Friday’s line-up played for the Cup last season as well.
Though the team will be up against rival Ole Miss in the battle for the Cameron Cup, Homan downplayed the actual rivalry and said the team is simply focused on doing well.
“They are our rivals, but the main thing for us is to go post some good scores Friday,” he said.
Mississippi State will be looking to improve upon its season-opening finish at the Scenic City Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn., where it tied Ole Miss and Southeastern Louisiana for sixth place.
After watching the Rebels at the Scenic City Invitational, Homan said he’s impressed with their team.
“They’re off to a good start to the season,” he said.
But for Homan, the team’s experience has played a part in its performance so far this season and should propel it to a strong finish Friday.
“Our scores are considerably lower than two years ago because we have experience for a change,” he said. “We’re shooting significantly lower scores so far.