The NAIA Men’s Golf National Championship is May 18-21 at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois.

“We have tried to formulate from scores and determine who is playing best at the moment to pick the best team for nationals,” said Kyle Blaser, men’s golf coach. 

“We feel that the team we are taking fits the course the best and gives us our best chance of bringing home a championship,” he said.

After the men’s conference victory, Blaser gave the team a week off to study for finals, he said.

They will have two-a-day practices, both mornings and afternoons following finals week.

“It gets them thinking golf, golf, golf and gets their game sharp,” Blaser said. 

The men’s golf team is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA national rankings.  They won two tournaments this season, including the Sooner Athletic Conference.

“We are going to have some fun and are going to Illinois with one thing in our mind, to win our 7^th championship,” Blaser said.

Michael Palmer, freshman golfer, won two tournaments during the spring season, including the Sooner Athletic Conference.

“We have a good team that is experienced,” Palmer said.  “They will all have their own ways of motivating themselves to play well in the national championship.”

There is always pressure when approaching a big tournament.  It is important to treat nationals like any other tournament, he said.

“If we all focus on what we have been doing and we see each other performing well, it will help motivate us to all play better,” he said.

The NAIA Women’s Golf National Championship is May 25-28 at Meadowbrook Golf Club in Rapid City, South Dakota. 

“Meadowbrook Golf Club is a course with a lot of lay-up spots and placement off the tee,” said M.J. Desbiens, women’s golf coach.  “It also has very big greens where your chipping has to be in top shape.”

“I believe it will be up to me to prepare the players mentally before we leave so they can handle the pressure of another national championship,” she said.

The women’s golf team will be reading articles that focus on how to manage their minds in tournament play, she said.

“I will try to have tournament setup every time we play the next 2 weeks so all the girls can keep their competitive edge,” Desbiens said.

In playing any tournament, the mind-set is always the same. Play the course, keep your emotions in check and stay in the moment, she said.

Laura Jones, junior golfer, led the team to the Sooner Athletic Conference victory, by winning the tournament.

To motivate her teammates, she sets a good example for them to follow.  She continuously tells them they are good golfers to build their confidence for the tournament, Jones said.

“I plan on working hard in the gym and out at the course to prepare for nationals,” she said.  “I also plan on having fun with my team and to relax a little.”

• 77.78 stroke average
• 1 win

2. Paige Martin – junior

• 78.19 stroke average
• 4 Top 10 finishes

3. Tanya Tibshraeny – freshman

• 80.52 stroke average
• 0 wins

4. Taylor Howard – freshman

• 82.05 stroke average
• 1 Top 10 finish

5. Morgan Gay – senior

• 80.60 stroke average
• 1 Top 10 finish

• 71.29 stroke average
• 3 wins

2. Clark Collier – sophomore

• 72.77 stroke average
• 1 win

3. Julian Valenciana – senior

• 73.14 stroke average
• 1 win

4. Ben Bench – senior

• 73.82 stroke average
• 2 Top 10 finishes

5. Taylor Artman – sophomore

• 74.56
• 4 Top 10 finishes

There are 229 student athletes attending OCU.  About 10 percent of these athletes are international students.  They are from many different countries including, South Africa, Sweden, England, and Uganda.

Women athletes constitute 44 percent while men athletes constitute the other 56 percent of the student-athletic population.

The women’s wrestling team relies heavily on talent from outside of Oklahoma.  Joey Miller is the only women’s wrestler representing Oklahoma.  The other 20 wrestlers are from a variety of places in the United States.

The men’s golf team has the most international athetes.  They represent 50 percent of the team.  The men’s soccer team also is heavily represented with one-third of their athletes being foreign.

Athletes from states other than Oklahoma make up 40 percent of the student-athlete population.  Oklahomans make up 50 percent of the population.  Again, the international student athletes fill out OCU’s teams with a remaining 10 percent.

1.  Stay hydrated – it is important to drink plenty of water.  Drinking water avoids heat illness and cramping.
2. Make an eating schedule – it is important to eat three meals a day and a couple snacks.  It helps maintain energy throughout the day and athletic performances.  Athletes are less likely to peak in energy then crash.
3. Eat a balanced diet – it is important to an appropriate amount of carbohydrates and protein.  According to Sports Medicine, “carbohydrates in the form of glycogen is the fuel that makes exercise possible.”  Therefore, an athlete must have the appropriate amount of carbohydrates to train properly.

–     Don’t play politics on your team.  It’s important not to buddy up with people to benefit or further yourself.  Worry about the benefits of your teammates, not yourself.

2.  Be loyal to your team

–     Root for your teammates, not against them.  Hope your teammates perform to the best of their ability.  You can only do as well as the team does.

3.  Be happy for your teammates’ success

–    Ask yourself a few questions:

“How are you when it comes to taking a backseat to others?” 

 ”If someone else gets credit for work well done, does it bother you?”

“If you get bumped from the “starting lineup” of your team, do you pout or tough it out?”

Promote and acknowledge the accomplishments of your teammates other than yourself.  Make one of your teammates feel special but acknowledging a good effort or a job well done.

The OCU women’s golf team volunteered at the First Tee Clinic at Lincoln Park Golf Course.  The entire team spent their Saturday morning working together teaching children to play golf.  The top five players left directly after the clinic for a tournament in Waco, Texas.

1.     Football is expensive

–          An advantage to not having a football team at OCU is that there is more money for other sports in the athletic department. 

2.     School spirit is evident in other sports

–          Students have brought posters and blow horns to soccer games.  They also wear the school’s “Big Blue” shirt to the basketball games to show their support.

3.     Sports are treated equally

–          There is a lot of excitement for each sport at OCU.  Students and staff support all sports rather than primarily focusing on one such as football.

1 Pro to having a football team

1. Small student body

–          Not having a football team may turn students away from OCU.  Football is popular in Oklahoma and having a football team may attract students and create a larger student body.

Click here for Athletic Director Jim Abbott’s take on football at OCU.

Click here for student Alisha Jenkins’ take on football at OCU.

Honorable Traits of a Student Athlete

Originally uploaded by mlarsh

In golf, it is crucial to have good etiquette. Golf etiquette is a set of rules or manners accepted on the golf course. Some traits to have good etiquette include,
1. Respect. Treat your opponent as you wish to be treated. Stand still and be quiet while your opponent is hitting. Do not stand in his line on the putting green.
2. Consideration. Be considerate of others and the rules of golf. Inform your opponent before taking a drop. Help him search for a lost ball. Say “good shot” when applicable.
3. Honesty. Don’t cheat. Keep an accurate score. Penalize yourself and your opponent if a rule is broken.
4. Positivity. Stay optimistic. Be happy and enjoy yourself. Having a positive attitude strongly influences how you play. Never say to yourself, “I’m going to miss.” It is so important to believe in yourself and say, “I am going to make it.”

• Commit to the talent you have.
• Realize that with practice you can build on that talent.
• Aspire to be better to benefit your team.

2.  Link your commitment to your values.

• Commitment based on personal values are more likely to be executed.
• Commitment is linked to dedication, responsibility, and integrity.
• Reevaluate your commitments to remind yourself of its importance.

3.  Commit for the good of the team.

• Offer help to teammates who are struggling.
• Encourage teammates to be their best.
• Do your best in hope that your team will also.

“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it,” said George Halas, former owner of the Chicago Bears.