SE GOLFERS OPEN SPRING SEASON

Southeast Missouri State University's men's golf team, after a solid fall season, is now ready to turn its attentions to the spring -- and ultimately the Ohio Valley Conference Championships.

The Indians will open the spring season this weekend with a three-day tournament (todayy through Monday) at the Bay Pointe Golf and Country Club in Jackson, Miss. There will be four other spring events leading up to the OVC tourney April 19-22 in Nashville, Tenn.

"I think we had a good fall. We played possibly our best scores we've had in a couple of years, but we upgraded the level of competition, so the scores that used to maybe win an event now you only get in the top four or five," said Southeast coach Carroll Williams. "But we wanted to try and play the better courses and better teams to help us ultimately prepare for the OVC."

Southeast finished fifth in the OVC last year, but the Indians were only two strokes out of second in what was an extremely balanced field. The Indians have placed second twice and once third in the OVC over the last six years.

"We've had a pretty good run of placing well in the conference the last six, seven years," Williams said. "I think we'll be competitive again this year. We have experience with guys that are juniors and seniors."

Williams said the Indians figure to be led by a group of four solid players: senior Shawn Edgar, juniors Jason Owen and Derek Rahlmann (Poplar Bluff High School) and freshman Ryan Jacques (Dexter).

Edgar, a four-year regular, had the lowest stroke average on the team last year at 76.1. Rahlmann (77.4) and Owen (77.8) were next in line while Jacques had a strong fall after placing third in the state high school meet last year.

Williams said several other golfers are also looking promising and will contend for playing time: senior Scott Roe (Notre Dame), junior Jake Salladin and freshmen John Litzelfelner (Jackson) and Brad Kostenchuk.

Also battling for playing time is senior Matt Clabaugh (Jackson).