LAWTON – After a strong season and postseason appearance last season, Cameron University men's golf coach
Austin Phillips hopes that momentum can carry into the new season, which begins in September.
In his second year at the helm, Phillips returns almost everyone from last season's record-breaking run and hopes that their success carries over into the Aggies' 5-tournament fall 2022 schedule, which will kickstart their quest for a Lone Star Conference Championship in the spring.
The quest begins in Lakewood, Colo., where CU will start the fall at the Writz at Mile High tournament hosted by Colorado Christian at the Bear Creek Golf Course, Sep. 11-13. They then have their first of four tournaments in October, The Ryan Palmer Invitational at the Amarillo Golf Course, Oct. 3-4. The Aggies finished second in the West Texas hosted event.
Cameron's next tournament will be the MSU Mustang Invitational, Oct. 10-11, at the Wichita Falls Country Club before they host The Hrnciar at the Territory Golf Course, Oct. 17-18. CU closes out the fall scheduled with the Citrus Intercollegiate, Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Champions Gate Golf Club in Davenport, Fla.
"This is a strong team and we are going to play a strong national scheduled against good teams," said Phillips. "We built up a lot of momentum and success last season and I hope it can translate into this year."
Phillips' squad is a perfect mix of experience and new additions. Leading the returners, LSC Freshman of the Year
Hamish Murray, LSC All-Tournament Team member
Preston Holmes, and senior
Joey Kirk; sophomores
Trevor Mierl and
Hunter Drotts also return with Mierl breaking the program's eagles record during his first year at CU.
The Aggies will have five true freshmen vying for a spot in the lineup in the fall.
Chris Somerfield is a standout from Queensland, Australia, joining fellow Aussie, Murray, on the squad. Phillips also added Lawton native
Zachary Siaca, Norman HS product
Carson Wright, and Mustang, Okla. native
Cole Luber.
Ethan Parker is the only Texan of the class but joins a CU team that already includes four student-athletes from the "Lone Star" state.
"We have 10 players that can contribute right now and have found guys coming back that have already started to build that foundation for years to come. We are excited and ready to get started come September."
Cameron, who finished the spring ranked No. 4 in the South Central Region and No. 27 nationally by Golfstat and was one of 25 Division II programs to be named a GCAA All-Academic Team (3.0+ GPA), is set for another postseason and championship run in 2022-23.