For many Tiger faithful, the fall season means the start of Saturday nights at Death Valley. But for LSU head coach Chuck Winstead, the fall season means it’s time to tee off.
The LSU men’s golf team will begin its 2016 season at the Carpet Capital Collegiate Tournament, which begins today and ends Sunday at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Georgia.
LSU, the seventh-ranked team in the nation, will compete against a field that includes No. 6 Florida, No. 11 Auburn, No. 13 Clemson, No. 16 Alabama, No. 17 South Carolina and No. 21 Virginia.
Teams from the Southeastern Conference occupied six of the top eight spots in the Carpet Capital last season, and Auburn won the tournament’s 2015 crown.
Last year, LSU finished fourth after struggling with its mid-range game late in the tournament. The Tigers worked especially hard on their mid-range over the summer in preparation for this tournament.
“Our short iron game will be key for the courses we are playing on,” Winstead said. “Mid-range is something we want to excel at this year.”
“Coach stressed the importance of the short iron game not just for this tournament but for the rest of the season,” said sophomore Sam Burns. “It’s definitely something that we keep in the back of our minds when we practice.”
The Tigers return four starters from last year’s fifth-place team and hope to make a return trip to the NCAA Championships in 2016.
LSU worked hard during the offseason, and Winstead said the Tigers are ready to compete for the school’s fifth national title.
“We’ve prepared for this season well,” he said. “We’re ready to get out there and finally play against some live competition.”