Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Southwestern University

Pirate golfers poised for another long run

Pirate golfers poised for another long run
Posted: Feb 13, 2014

GEORGETOWN – Big expectations surround the Southwestern University men's and women's golf teams in the second half of the 2013-14 campaign after solid fall seasons that ended with both teams ranked in their respective top 25 polls.

The Pirate men – who are ranked No. 19 in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division III Coaches' Poll – will return to the course Monday to take part in the Concordia Invitational at Falconhead Golf Club in Austin. It will continue a run of tough and pivotal tournaments that started in the fall with the prestigious Gordin Intercollegiate that saw Southwestern finish in the top 10.

Arguably an even tougher spring awaits the Pirates as they again take part in the West Cup which will feature top teams from the West Region including host and 9th-ranked La Verne University.

Coming off the program's first ever NCAA National Championship Tournament appearance Jordan Cowart and Cameron Button will continue to lead the Pirates.

Cowart is coming off two top 10 finishes in the fall and a 12th place finish at the Gordin Intercollegiate as the senior is holding an average score of 73. Button has continued his storied career as his runner-up finish at the John Bohmann Memorial Invitational helped the Pirates to a first place finish.

For the Pirate women, Bernice Leonard and Ali Walden will try to continue the momentum from a solid fall season. Leonard is carrying an 81.2 average into the spring after four fall tournaments, while Walden picked up two top five finishes.

With three top 10 finishes as a team and a runner-up finish at the Texas Lutheran Invitational, the Pirate women understand the need for a strong spring if a return trip to the NCAA National Championship Tournament is in the cards.

One key tournament the Pirate women have circled is the prestigious 13th Annual Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational March 15 and 16. Four teams in the top 10 will again descend on the beautiful Georgia course including 14 teams in the Golf World's top 25 rankings including No. 25-ranked Southwestern.

Southwestern will also look to defend its SCAC Championship April 21-22 as the Pirates host the conference tournament at Lakecliff Country Club in Spicewood Springs, Texas.

Both squads have also circled the week of May 13 looking for a return trip to the NCAA National Championships at Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. As expectations rise for both squads, look for Pirates in to rise to the challenge.