Regionals just first step for 'Dogs
If their game is on, some see a finals appearance as a reality
Keith Kountz / AMR
Fresno State senior Jason Anthony and his teammates will be competing next week in the NCAA West Regional. The Bulldogs hope to be among the top 10 that advance to the championships May 31- June 3. |
By Darrell Copeland III
The Collegian
Sure the regular season counts, but it’s the postseason possibilities that excite the Fresno State men’s golf team.
Bulldogs head coach Mike Watney and five of his best men will travel to Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday, for the beginning of the NCAA West Regionals. And with a senior-laden, experienced squad, the Bulldogs think they have a chance to continue on finals May 31- June 3.
“I think we have a great chance,” senior golfer Brian Kelley said. “If we each play our game and do what were capable of doing.”
Fresno State will enter the tournament as the 19th seed at a course it has played at once already this season — Tucson National Golf Club. Watney admits he never really had any doubts of being selected as a member of the West Regional, especially with Fresno State’s past history of qualifying for postseason play.
He also estimates that the Bulldogs have made the regionals in 15 of the last 16 years and said the Bulldogs have advanced further about half of the time. This year may be another that Watney can add to the list, given Fresno State can perform to its potential.
“If we are on our game, we can advance to finals and maybe make some waves there too,” Watney said.
The first round of postseason will include 27 teams and six individuals not on a selected team, while 10 teams and two individuals will be able to advance to the championship final in Sunriver, Ore.
Receiving the draw to Tucson was welcomed by the Bulldogs golfers, with early season rain and wind providing the toughest hazards for the Bulldogs to play through.
Kelley said that he and his teammates were forced to compete in at least three or four tournaments where rain and wind were the toughest elements on the course.
“Those conditions were really hard,” Kelley said.
Fellow senior Jason Anthony — Watney’s No. 1 golfer — sees it has an all-or-nothing scenario for the team.
“If we don’t do it now, we’re never going to have another chance,” Anthony said.
In a sport where anything and everything happens, Anthony says it’s just a matter of the guys putting together solid performances at the same time.
“We’re all really good players, it’s just a matter of putting it all together at the same time,” Anthony said.
It will help that the Bulldogs are peaking as a team now, and the confidence it gives to the team is something that can carry the Bulldogs to the finals, Kelley said.
“We have it in our heads that we’re all capable of great things,” Kelley said.
It so happens that Watney — his coach— is a believer of that same thing. Whether or not Fresno State can advance out of the West Regional and into the championship round, Watney believes at least a few of his golfers have a chance to further their golfing careers.
“If they continue to improve, I’m never going to say they can’t make it,” Watney said.
For now though, only one thing is on minds of the golfers.
“I honestly think we can make it to the finals,” Anthony said.
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