Men’s golf starts spring season in Laredo, Texas

With the academic spring semester in full swing, some sports are gearing up for their seasons. Troy men’s golf team fits the bill as they’re in Laredo, Texas, to begin its season.

The team traveled to Texas to participate in the Border Olympics.

Troy was one of 16 teams competing for the right to refer to themselves as the champions of the two-day tournament. Amongst the field was the host and No. 47 Texas, Houston, Michigan and Miami (Ohio).

“It’s been a while since we’ve been in a tournament and our guys are ready,” head coach Clay Bounds told Troy Athletics.

At the end of the event, the team secured a ninth-place finish out of the 16 competing teams.

Jake Springer’s scorching second day of competition propelled him to a tie for 18th place overall, which led the team.

Nick Fowlkes ended the Border Olympics in a tie for 27th place, shooting +7.

Monday saw 36 holes of golf. After two rounds Troy sat tied with Lipscomb for ninth place shooting +19. Round two of the tournament saw the Trojans shoot +16.

Up to hole 16 of the second round, Fowlkes stood as the highest ranked Trojan. Shooting +3 put Fowlkes in a 12-person tie for 13th place. Fowlkes is coming off a fall season where he shot -0.25 vs par.

Finding himself just outside of that tie, but in another was Springer. Springer sat in a tie for 24th place shooting +4. Like Fowlkes, the senior is looking to build on his fall season. In the fall, Springer’s individual victory allowed Troy to bring home third place in the Everett Buick GMC Classic.

Through 18 holes, Troy had moved Lipscomb into eighth place. Troy was shooting +18 with sophomore Pablo Garcia pushing himself and Springer into a tie for 21st place. Nick Fowlkes slid a spot to 14th place.

Monday’s action kicked off a spring season where the conference championship is not played until April 22 to 25. On the road to the conference tournament, the Trojans must make their first stop to take on the Daytona Beach Intercollegiate Monday, March 3 to 4. The spring season also has the Trojans making stops to participate in Florida State’s Seminole Intercollegiate and Mississippi State’s Mossy Oak Collegiate.

During the fall the Trojans had moderate success. They took home the top prize of the Argent Financial Classic as well as their aforementioned third place finish. With the return of 2023 NCAA qualifier Brantley Scott, the Trojans are primed for more of the same.

The Trojans continue their season with the Daytona Beach Intercollegiate Invitational on Mar. 3-4. The event will be played in Daytona Beach, Florida.