Everyone likes to show off their new home.
That’s exactly what the LSU men’s golf team gets to do this weekend as it hosts the LSU National Invitational at the recently renovated University Club.
“We play a lot of great courses, but I think U-Club is probably the most difficult as far as regular season play goes,” said LSU senior Andrew Loupe. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. I’m really excited about it.”
Fresh off the defense of their Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate championship in Awendaw, S.C., on Tuesday, the Tigers re-entered the Top 10 this week at No. 9.
“It was good to get a ‘W’ last week,” Loupe said. “I think it’s important for us not to just relax. We have to stay focused.”
Loupe, who finished second in the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate tournament, will be joined by fellow senior John Peterson, juniors Sang Yi and Austin Gutgsell, and freshman Andrew Presley.
“Of course we expect to win on our home turf,” Loupe said. “I think a lot of guys will be disappointed if we don’t win. At the same time, there are a lot of good teams coming in.”
LSU enters the weekend as the highest ranked team in the field, just edging the No. 11 Iowa Hawkeyes, who won a staggering four straight tournaments in the fall.
The No. 37 Notre Dame Fighting Irish, No. 45 Michigan Wolverines and No. 46 Chattanooga Mocs represent the Top 50, as well.
In-state teams Centenary and Louisiana-Lafayette will make the short trip to Baton Rouge.
After a three-week hiatus, the No. 6 LSU women’s golf team is back in action this weekend at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic in Athens, Ga. The Lady Tigers last played March 13 when they hosted the LSU Tiger Golf Classic at University Club.
The three-day, 54-hole, event at The University of Georgia Golf Club features a modified format. All five golfers representing a team will play together and count the best four scores on each hole.
Five of the nation’s top 10 teams and 12 of the nation’s top 25 golfers, including No. 1 Megan McChrystal of LSU, are set to compete.