Indians open fall play by hosting tournament

Southeast Missouri State University's golf program begins what may or may not begin its final fall season today by hosting a tournament.

The annual Harris Fall Classic, a 54-hole event featuring 11 schools and 12 teams, will conclude Tuesday at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. There will be 36 holes today and 18 holes Tuesday, with play beginning at 8 a.m. both days.

"This tournament is always a good way to get our fall schedule under way," Southeast coach Carroll Williams said of the event that is sponsored by Steve Harris, who played golf at Southeast under Williams in the early 1970s.

"Steve has done a lot for our program, allowing us to hold first-class tournaments we might not be able to have on our own," Williams said.

But the big question is, will the annual event continue after this school year? Because of budget cuts, Southeast plans to eliminate golf after the spring season, but Williams said there is still a chance the program can be continued through private funding.

"There are some people interested in doing that, but we'll have wait and see what happens," Williams said.

As for the opening tournament, joining Southeast -- which will enter two teams -- in the field are Chicago State, Eastern Illinois, Lincoln, Loyola-Chicago, Missouri Baptist, Missouri-Kansas City, Morehead State, Southern Illinois, St. Louis University and Tennessee-Martin.

The event will mark the first of five fall tournaments for the Indians. The primary spring season, when the Ohio Valley Conference Championships are held, begins in mid-February.

"The fall schedule is just a good way to look at your team and give people some playing time to get ready for the spring," Williams said.

Southeast returns eight players from last year's squad that placed last in the 11-team OVC Tournament. No individual for the Indians finished among the top 20 at that season-ending meet.

Returning golfers are seniors Brandon Couch from Sikeston, Matt Hillis (Poplar Bluff) and Brian Sheehan; juniors Justin Setser and Nathan Sprague; and sophomores Matt Litzelfelner (Jackson), Zack Decker and Mark Schmitz.

Jesse Barge joins the squad as a freshman while Williams said several other players will be competing this fall for spots on the spring roster.