Published: May 04, 2008 11:54 pm            

FSU enjoys solid practice round at East Regional

FAIRMONT — Fairmont State's men's golf team begins defense of its NCAA Division II East Regional title today at the Northeast/East Super Regional, which is being played at The Saint Annes Golf Club in Middletown, Del.

The Falcons played a practice round at the facility Sunday afternoon and the squad's first group is slated to tee off at 8:50 a.m. today on the par-71, 7,100-yard Back Creek Course.

“I was real pleased with our practice round,” said FSU coach Michael Walker. “I could tell that our guys have been working hard the past few weeks.

“This course is a little different than ones that we're used to playing. It's similar to the Pete Dye Course in our area in that there are run off areas to the left and the right on the greens and it's open in the front. The real trouble around the greens lies behind them. It's also very flat and fairly wide open which is good for us because we've got some long-ball hitters. They do have some fairway bunkers strategically placed, but because we've got some guys who are long off of the tee, those really won't be factors.”

The Fairmont State five set to defend the East Regional title in the three-day, 54-hole event includes senior captains Will Gautreau and Justin Caroli, junior Zack Rudy, sophomore Jeff Cunningham and freshman Dylan Alasky. Gautreau, Caroli and Rudy all played on the East Regional Championship team last spring.

“It's a very nice track,” said Gautreau, who tied for medalist honors last season at the East Regional with a three-day total of 221. “It's kind of open so no one lost too many balls today. Zack and Justin are pretty long off of the tee and they didn't get into trouble, so I feel like that's going to allow us to finish holes without trouble.

“If there are trouble spots on this course, it's in and around the greens. They're very firm and very fast, a lot like Augusta is for The Masters. We're going to have to learn how to deal with that.”

Caroli, who finished 11th last season at the East Regional and a team-best 51st overall individually in the nation last spring in the NCAA Finals, agrees.

“It's an extremely nice track,” he said. “I was very impressed with it. It's very firm and we had some good bounces and some bad ones, which is going to be typical in a tournament like this.

“Overall as a team, I thought we played the practice round pretty well today. The greens here are quick and we're not quite used to that, but we're going to have to deal with it.

“Will and I talked to the guys after the round today and told them it's time to get down to business. We're here for a reason. I think they all understand that and right now, we're pumped and ready to go.”

        

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