April 13, 2007

SAN MARCOS - The Texas State men's golf team will look to build on its strong showing last week in Tennessee as it plays host to the 44th-annual Southland Conference Men's Golf Championship, April 16-18 at Comanche Trace Golf Course in Kerrville.

The Bobcats will try to upset defending champion Lamar, who has the SLC's lowest team scoring average and is led by reigning SLC Player of the Week Dawie Van Der Walt.

Texas State's Michael Carnes won the award prior to Van Der Walt after winning the individual title and leading the `Cats to a second place finish at the Aldila/Middle Tennessee State Intercollegiate. It marked the best finish this season for Texas State despite the team not having a permanent head coach in place for the tournament.

Long-time men's golf coach Bill Woodley resigned at the beginning of April to pursue a private business venture. Texas State women's golf head coach Mike Akers will travel with the team as the interim coach for the tournament in Kerrville.

Lamar will be trying for its fifth title in the last seven years and all-time best 21st team title in the tournament. The Cardinals are ranked eigth in the latest Golfstat rankings, compiling a 286.36 stroke average during 33 rounds and winning five of 11 tournaments they have participated in this year.

Texas State and Lamar will be two of the ten SLC teams composing the field at Comanche Trace. Fifty competitors begin play with the first group teeing off at 8 a.m. on Monday with the second round scheduled for Tuesday and the final round on Wednesday. Comanche Trace has a par-72, 7,103-yard layout.