University Star

The Texas State men’s golf team will travel to Choudrant, La. Monday, Oct. 1 to compete in the Squire Creek Invitational hosted by Louisiana Tech University at the Squire Creek Country Club.

The Bobcats have a quick turnaround from the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, unlike the build-up to the Ocean Course Invitational, where the team had almost two full weeks of preparation.

“Our mindset is the same,” senior Luis Thiele said. “The attitude is the same. The goal is to clean up from our previous tournament and go out and try to win in Louisiana.”

Squire Creek Country Club is a Par 72, 7,105-yard course designed by Tom Fazio. The 18-hole championship golf course is ranked in the top 10 for best new constructed courses in America. It ranked No. 1 as the best course in the state of La. by Golf Digest.

Golf Course News voted Fazio the Golf Course Architect of the Year for the past five years. Fazio's other honors include being ranked among the best new public, resort and private courses.

Fazio designed the Squire Creek course to blend harmoniously with the surrounding natural terrain, subtly enhancing color and texture variations around each hole, according to the club’s official website.

“Fazio’s pretty generous coming off the tee,” Coach Shane Howell said. “But this is a precision course. This course will have the fastest green we’ll see all year. With the slopes on the green, you have to make sure you’re at the right level, because if the putt is missed, your second shot will end up longer than your first.”

Host Louisiana Tech has experienced much success in its annual Squire Creek Invitational. The Bulldogs won the team championship in 2010 and last year they finished second to Southern Mississippi. Through three rounds of play Louisiana Tech shot 291, 282 and 289 for a total score of 862. Team winner Southern Mississippi shot 289, 281 and 284 for a total score of 854.

Sam Houston State's Scott Kelly shot an opening round of 66, putting him ahead. He ended the competition with the individual title and a three-round total of eight-under par.

The Bobcats have played three diversely designed courses this year. The Bobcats will look to change a season that has started somewhat slow and continue the steady progression, which is producing confidence among the teammates.

“It’s early in the season,” Howell said. “We learned our lesson: you have to have a short memory in golf and turn the page. I am looking forward to much better results this upcoming week. We have a good group of confident men.”