CLEVELAND, Tenn.-The Lee University golfers are preparing for the spring season with the same group that finished the fall slate in top form, winning a prestigious tournament in Florida and placing second in a Georgia event. All five starters that led the fall campaign are back on the links, according to first-year Coach Evan Spence.

Senior Oliver Lewis-Perkins set a new school record with his three-day total of 202 at the Copperhead Invitational (Innisbrook, Fla., Oct. 23-24). As a team, Lee won over second-place University of West Florida and a third-place Oklahoma Christian University team that was runner-up in the NCAA National Championship last year.

"Right now, we are finishing up our qualifying process and we will set the lineup firmly by the end of this week before we leave to head down to Saint Leo (Fla.)," pointed out Coach Spence. "Through qualifying thus far, both Bennett McNabb and Lewis-Perkins have earned spots in the lineup for the first event, and they were both huge contributors for us last semester. I am expecting more of the same from them this spring and I am excited to see who else is going to step up the next few days as we close out our qualifying and earn those last three spots in the lineup."

Checking out Schedule

The Flames are taking a couple of trips to Florida, another one to Valdosta, and then staying closer to home (Sevierville) for an invitational tournament. On April 22^nd, the countdown toward the National begins with play in the GSC Tournament.

"There is no doubt we (always) play one of the most highly competitive schedules in DII and that is no different this year," noted Spence. "No question, we will face some of the best in the region, and some of the DII national powers are coming to Florida.

"We make it a point to travel to wherever the best competition is. With that being said, we will run into some of the top teams in the country all semester long. The fields at the Southeastern Collegiate in Valdosta and at the Argonaut Invitational in Pensacola are always especially strong, with the Argonaut typically drawing a slightly more geographically diverse field. We are excited to get to play against some DI competition at Tennessee Tech's event this spring as well," he explained.

 College Golf Keeps Getting Better

When asked about some of the top clubs and individual players in the GSC, Region and DII this year, coach Spence replied, "To be honest, everybody we play against is good. College golf just keeps getting better and better. When you play a schedule as competitive as we do and you are pitted against the top teams in the country week after week, the fact is anyone of those teams or individuals can spike and have a huge week at any given time.

"It is best for us not to concern ourselves with what everybody else does, but rather spend our energy and focus on getting ourselves prepared week to week the best way we know how and then just competing as hard as possible come tournament time." 

 Regional Play in Gainesville, Ga.

The Flames got an early look at the NCAA DII South Regional site when they played in the Regional Preview. "We played the Chattahoochee back in the fall and we have played there every year for the last several seasons, so it is a course that we have some experience on as a group," Spence related.

"I am excited that it is close to home which should allow us to get some reps in over the course this semester when we have some free weekends. At the end of the day, we are all going to be playing the same course that week and it will be the same mentality then that it is for all the other events we play this season."

 Team and Individual Goals

 Coach Spence wasted no time in talking about goals; "All of our guys have their own personal goals and I want to be sure I am doing whatever I can to help them achieve those goals. I think very highly of these guys individually and I want to see each one carry out what they set out to achieve at the beginning of this season.

"As far as the team, the goal is to win every event we tee it up in from now until May 25. Golf is a volatile game and that may not happen, but I know that we are capable of doing that. After all, why even show up to play if that is not the goal every week?"