SPORTS RELEASE
Govs golf opens spring season in Tampa
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
W-03 JD/bk 2/19/57
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University men's golf team, two-time defending Ohio Valley Conference
champion, will open its spring season this weekend at the Dick Wittcoff/USF Invitational at the University of South
Florida Golf Course in Tampa, Fla.
The three-round, 54-hole competition will begin Friday and conclude Sunday.
Participating teams include: Arkansas State, Columbus State, Depaul, Florida Atlantic, Florida Southern, Francis
Marion, Jacksonville State, Marquette, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Tennessee-Chattanooga, Cen-
tral Florida and host South Florida.
Seniors Joe Humston and Adam Shanks will be among the Govs competing, as well as juniors Matt Gallant and
Chris Harder and freshman Matt Dugger.
Head men's golf coach Mark Leroux remains confident despite the Governors lack of practice time because of this
winter's disagreeable weather. The Govs have practiced just three weeks heading into this weekend's tournament.
"We've been out there every chance we could," said Leroux. "It has been a little bit of a hindrance, but we're not
going to use it as an excuse. We are a good golf team with talented players. After a practice round and a day or two,
we'll be right on track. It's like riding a bike."
The Governors are coming off a successful fall season, where they won the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational in
Yorktown, Ind., and the APSU-hosted Precept Invitational. The Govs also finished third of 20 teams at the Countrywide
Home Loan Intercollegiate in Northridge, Calif.
Gallant finished first at the Earl Yestingsmeier Invitational and Humston won medalist honors at the Precept
Intercollegiate.
However, Leroux especially has been pleased with Shanks and Dugger's practice performances.
"Adam is playing pretty well," said Leroux. "I've been impressed with his play and Dugger has stepped it up. He
looks ready to play."
Although Leroux wants to be successful in the spring season's first tournament, he realizes there are many
tournaments to be played before the OVC Championships.
"After a big break like we've had, you wonder if you will come back as strong," said Leroux. "If we play well, it can
be such a good boost of momentum for our guys. But they have to realize, if they don't play particularly well, it's not the
end of the world."