Men's College Golf: St. Edward's University: Season Preview
2015–2016 season preview
men's GOLF
The 2015–2016 edition of the St. Edward’s University men’s golf team hopes to increase its impressive run of 12-straight appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament — a mark that is the longest current streak of any St. Edward’s program. The Hilltoppers aim to not only continue that trend but advance to the NCAA National Tournament for the first time since the 2013–2014 season. There are big shoes to fill since perennial awardwinner Jose Hernandez and four-year contributor Andres Rodas were lost to graduation. With four returning letterwinners, two transfers and three freshmen making up this year’s team, St. Edward’s must mesh as a team early on. “I think there will be a slight adjustment during our first few events as players get acclimated to their new surroundings, which will be tough since we are playing in two of our strongest events at the start of the season,” said head coach Todd Ohlmeyer, who enters his eighth season on the hilltop. “By the end of the fall, everyone will be more comfortable and we will be ready to go.”
TEAM Returning juniors Joey Hearn, Jay Hogan and Dillon Van Essen are expected to be a big part of the starting lineup. Hearn and Hogan both appeared in 11 of the 12 Hilltopper tournaments a season ago. Van Essen led the squad with a 73.5 scoring average and is looking to find the extended success that earned him All-America status as a freshman. “It is nice having Van Essen, Hogan and Hearn back. They are great leaders for our program both on and off the course, and I have so much confidence in them,” said Ohlmeyer. “They have all expressed how much they want to get to the finals this year, and are putting in the extra effort to do so. We are in a unique position in that we don't have a senior on the roster and we will have this team for the next two years. Our players realize the opportunity they have and want to make the most of it.” Sophomore Andrew Liu also hopes to earn time in the starting lineup along with freshmen Preston Dickson, Andrew Spear and Skyler Young. “Liu didn't have the freshman year he was looking for but is extremely talented and will play an important role for us this year,” Ohlmeyer said. “Spear had an outstanding junior career, which included participating in the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur in Houston. Dickson and Young are both products of Texas high school golf, which prepares everyone for the next step. I would not be surprised if those freshmen became regular contributors to our lineup.” Junior transfers Eliott Azoulay (Stetson) and Thomas Holtzman (Oklahoma City) also join the team this season after successful stints at their previous schools. “Azoulay and Holtzman are transferring in and have shown that they could play a pivotal role in our success,” Ohlmeyer said.
SCHEDULE The Hilltoppers open their schedule with two important tournaments: the NCAA National Tournament Preview and NCAA Regional Preview. Both tournaments will take place at the host courses for those postseason events. In these tournaments, the Hilltoppers will be pitted against the same teams they will face to advance in
postseason play. St. Edward’s will end the fall season with two regional tournaments at Newman and Midwestern State. The spring season opens with a huge test, as the Hilltoppers head to Florida to compete at the Matlock Invitational in the always-tough South Region. After that, two St. Mary’s tournaments in San Antonio are sandwiched around a tournament out west at the Notre Dame De Namur Invitational in California. St. Edward’s will host its annual home event at Onion Creek Country Club in late March followed by the last regular season tournament at Dallas Baptist. The Heartland Conference Tournament will again take place in Horseshoe Bay at Slick Rock Golf Club. Each year, the Hilltoppers’ strength of schedule ranks among the most difficult in the country and South Central Region. This year is no different. “Our schedule is once again a great one,” Ohlmeyer said. “We will get a look at both the NCAA Championship course in Denver and the NCAA Regional course in the fall. We will also play in Wichita for the first time at Crestview Country Club, one of the most popular spots on the Web.com Tour. In the spring, we will again travel to Florida Southern’s tournament, which boasts one of the strongest fields in all of DII golf. We have pushed back the St. Edward’s Invitational a few weeks in an effort to get the course in better condition and play in warmer weather. Needless to say, we are excited to be hosting at our home, Onion Creek Country Club.”
OUTLOOK St. Edward’s will attempt to return to nationals for the fifth time in program history. The national championship will be contested at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colo. “We will have an extremely deep lineup these next two years, which is very exciting. We don't have a senior on the roster and our juniors have a tremendous amount of experience. That, coupled with the new freshmen and transfers, should make us very strong come April and May,” Ohlmeyer said. “I, along with the team, am excited to get the season started. We have a ton of potential, a great schedule and are proud to be representing St. Edward's University.”
Learn more about Hilltopper men's golf at: GoHilltoppers.com
men's GOLF
The 2015–2016 edition of the St. Edward’s University men’s golf team hopes to increase its impressive run of 12-straight appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament — a mark that is the longest current streak of any St. Edward’s program. The Hilltoppers aim to not only continue that trend but advance to the NCAA National Tournament for the first time since the 2013–2014 season. There are big shoes to fill since perennial awardwinner Jose Hernandez and four-year contributor Andres Rodas were lost to graduation. With four returning letterwinners, two transfers and three freshmen making up this year’s team, St. Edward’s must mesh as a team early on. “I think there will be a slight adjustment during our first few events as players get acclimated to their new surroundings, which will be tough since we are playing in two of our strongest events at the start of the season,” said head coach Todd Ohlmeyer, who enters his eighth season on the hilltop. “By the end of the fall, everyone will be more comfortable and we will be ready to go.”
TEAM Returning juniors Joey Hearn, Jay Hogan and Dillon Van Essen are expected to be a big part of the starting lineup. Hearn and Hogan both appeared in 11 of the 12 Hilltopper tournaments a season ago. Van Essen led the squad with a 73.5 scoring average and is looking to find the extended success that earned him All-America status as a freshman. “It is nice having Van Essen, Hogan and Hearn back. They are great leaders for our program both on and off the course, and I have so much confidence in them,” said Ohlmeyer. “They have all expressed how much they want to get to the finals this year, and are putting in the extra effort to do so. We are in a unique position in that we don't have a senior on the roster and we will have this team for the next two years. Our players realize the opportunity they have and want to make the most of it.” Sophomore Andrew Liu also hopes to earn time in the starting lineup along with freshmen Preston Dickson, Andrew Spear and Skyler Young. “Liu didn't have the freshman year he was looking for but is extremely talented and will play an important role for us this year,” Ohlmeyer said. “Spear had an outstanding junior career, which included participating in the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur in Houston. Dickson and Young are both products of Texas high school golf, which prepares everyone for the next step. I would not be surprised if those freshmen became regular contributors to our lineup.” Junior transfers Eliott Azoulay (Stetson) and Thomas Holtzman (Oklahoma City) also join the team this season after successful stints at their previous schools. “Azoulay and Holtzman are transferring in and have shown that they could play a pivotal role in our success,” Ohlmeyer said.
SCHEDULE The Hilltoppers open their schedule with two important tournaments: the NCAA National Tournament Preview and NCAA Regional Preview. Both tournaments will take place at the host courses for those postseason events. In these tournaments, the Hilltoppers will be pitted against the same teams they will face to advance in
postseason play. St. Edward’s will end the fall season with two regional tournaments at Newman and Midwestern State. The spring season opens with a huge test, as the Hilltoppers head to Florida to compete at the Matlock Invitational in the always-tough South Region. After that, two St. Mary’s tournaments in San Antonio are sandwiched around a tournament out west at the Notre Dame De Namur Invitational in California. St. Edward’s will host its annual home event at Onion Creek Country Club in late March followed by the last regular season tournament at Dallas Baptist. The Heartland Conference Tournament will again take place in Horseshoe Bay at Slick Rock Golf Club. Each year, the Hilltoppers’ strength of schedule ranks among the most difficult in the country and South Central Region. This year is no different. “Our schedule is once again a great one,” Ohlmeyer said. “We will get a look at both the NCAA Championship course in Denver and the NCAA Regional course in the fall. We will also play in Wichita for the first time at Crestview Country Club, one of the most popular spots on the Web.com Tour. In the spring, we will again travel to Florida Southern’s tournament, which boasts one of the strongest fields in all of DII golf. We have pushed back the St. Edward’s Invitational a few weeks in an effort to get the course in better condition and play in warmer weather. Needless to say, we are excited to be hosting at our home, Onion Creek Country Club.”
OUTLOOK St. Edward’s will attempt to return to nationals for the fifth time in program history. The national championship will be contested at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Colo. “We will have an extremely deep lineup these next two years, which is very exciting. We don't have a senior on the roster and our juniors have a tremendous amount of experience. That, coupled with the new freshmen and transfers, should make us very strong come April and May,” Ohlmeyer said. “I, along with the team, am excited to get the season started. We have a ton of potential, a great schedule and are proud to be representing St. Edward's University.”
Learn more about Hilltopper men's golf at: GoHilltoppers.com
