Rattlers Eye MEAC Golf Title

Florida A&M is looking to win the first-ever, Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Golf Showcase in Savannah, Ga.

The MEAC Showcase will pit FAMU against fellow Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference teams in a fifty-four hole tournament.

The teams will play 36 holes on the first day of competition and 18 holes on the second day.

The tournament will be held at the Henderson Golf Club. Coach Marvin Green described the course as straightforward yet challenging.

“What you see is what you get, but there are a lot of hazards out there,” Green said.

Junior Shephard Archie III said that Henderson is one of the tougher courses the team will play all year. Archie and Green both described the course as tight. The Henderson Golf Club website says that accuracy and finesse are needed to succeed.

Consistency has been an issue with FAMU in some tournaments this season. Green explained how the team has been working to maintain a high level of play throughout the tournament.

“One of the things we’ve been doing is making sure the guys practice a lot. Sometimes playing rounds with their six irons on down,” Green said.

Archie said that team has been working on the driving range in order to cut down their score and stay consistent.

Schools such as Bethune-Cookman will make the competition tough for FAMU. Willie Mack III of Bethune- Cookman finished first individually in multiple tournaments this year, including the FAMU Spring Invitational.

Despite the challenges, Archie is confident in the team’s abilities.

“We should come no worse than second, but I’m expecting for us to win,” Archie said.

Senior Elijah Jackson had similar feelings on the team’s chances at a win in Savannah.

“I expect us to make a run at the win,” Jackson said. “It’s definitely a big one we need to bring back to Tallahassee.”

This is the first year the MEAC has had enough golf teams in order to hold a conference tournament. Conference tournament winners qualify for the NCAA Division I Golf Championship.

The MEAC Showcase will start with a practice round on April 10. The tournament officially begins on April 11 and ends April 12.