Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

OBU Golf Future Is Bright

Longtime Ouachita Baptist University tiger golf coach Ike Sharp is cautiously optimistic about his teams's chances for the coming spring season.

"The team is excited about the upcoming season," said Sharp. "The cold weather has prevented some practice time, but we are satisfied with the progress we have been able to make,. We have a fairly good mix of veterans and newcomers."

The Tigers finished third in the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference Championship Golf Tournament last spring behind Arkansas Tech University and Harding University.

Sharp will look to senior letterman Kevin Jones to carry the team into its first year of independent competition as a dual member in the NAIA Division I and NCAA Division II. Jones, from Arkadelphia, is entering his fourth year of competition for the Tigers. He is also a three-year letterman on the Tiger football team as a tight end.

"Kevin's practice time has been increased because foodball is over," Sharp said.

Jones and Junior Mark Conine, also from Arkadelphia, are eligible to be Academic All-Americans if their scores for the year average in the 70s, said Sharp.

Conine is entering his third year of competition for the Tigers and Sharp looks for him to provide some low scores to help the team's chances.

"Mark could really help us this year if he works hard," Sharp said. "He meeds to bear down because a low score from him would be great."<

Sophomore Clay Conly of Gurdon had the lowest score on the team in the AIC Tournament last spring. Conly lettered as a freshman and also is being counted on by Sharp to help set the pace for the Tiger linksters.

"Clay is a very conscientious golfer and a hard worker also," Sharp said. "He played in just about every match last year and I expect him to help us a lot this year."

The squad features two additional sophomores this year.

"Jack Hambleton from Ashdown has not played for us, but he started on the courses this fall and has shown some promise," Sharp said. "Neil Ingram has joined us from Camden. He didn't play last year either. But, he was a member on a competitive high school team and is a hard worker."

Junior transfer Scott Massey from West Palm Beach, Fla., continues a family tradition for the Tigers as his father, Tom Massey, was a Tiger golfer. "The only thing that will hurt Scott is his lack of tournament competition, but that has to come with experience," Sharp said. Jermey Petters is another junior on the squad who is a two-sport athlete doing double time as a defensive end for the Tiger football program. Petters, from Grapeland, Texas, has never played golf for OBU. "His practice time is cut short because of football, but he has a lot of potential and can really hit the ball a long way," Sharp said.

Only one freshman is on the roster this season. Brent Walker, who went to Shiloh Christian in Springdale, now lives in North Little Rock and played golf in high school. "Brent has great potential and could really help us in the future with his ability to play," Sharp said.

The Tigers open the season with a match on Monday, February 12 at Glenwood Country Club. The opening salvo of the 1996 season will feature Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University, Harding and the Tigers.

On March 7, the Tigers will travel to Benton to Longhills Golf Course to compete against all the NCAA Division II Schools in Arkansas, including Arkansas Tech University, the University of Central Arkansas, the University of Arkansas at Monticello, Southern Arkansas University, Henderson State University, Harding University and OBU. Lyon College will also compete in the tournament.

Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., will play host to a field of 30 schools, including OBU, on March 14-16.