Bearkats focus on mindset at New Mexico State
10/18/2015 5:42:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Sam Houston State men's golf team looks to build upon strong second and third rounds a week ago when it visits the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate at the par-71, 7,242-yard New Mexico State Golf Course in Las Cruces on Monday and Tuesday.
A shotgun start will begin play for the 14-team field at 9:30 a.m. for Monday's 36-hole opener and Tuesday's final 18. A season ago, the Bearkats fired a 6-under, 846, taking runner-up behind the hosts.
“Andrew Ertel and Jake (McCrory) both played last year and did well,” fourth-year head coach Brandt Kieschnick said. “The expectations are on the ingredients of process, preparation and mindset. We know if we do those things well, the scores come to you.”
At the event, Ertel took ninth, sparked by a third-round 68, to shoot 211. McCrory finished tied for 30th at 217, as the squad seeks similar results to help build momentum on a course similar to their own.
“The golf course is open like Raven Nest,” Kieschnick said. “The greens will be good as will the field. We're looking for the guys to get some momentum. We're working to get better each week and I look forward to see how they respond after last week's performance.”
Joining Sam Houston includes New Mexico State, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, Incarnate Word, Lamar, Northern Illinois, Stephen F. Austin, UT-Arlington, UTEP, UT Rio Grande Valley, Wichita State, Western New Mexico and Odessa College.
Last week, Mason Weld and Ertel secured ties for 38th at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic from Pearland's Golfcrest Country Club, helping Sam Houston to a ninth place finish. The Kats concluded the first round in 13th but clawed back for their second top-10 finisher on the season.
“I am big on the process and mindset,” Kieschnick said. “We have to keep getting better at that. We did it the last two rounds at Golfcrest and I complimented them on it. They had a great game plan. They need to keep believing in what they're doing and things will come.
“The glass is always half full. Those are things you build on. That shows they have heart and figured things out and adjusted. If we do that for three rounds it will be a different story.”
