Men's golf gears up for Kickingbird Golf Classic

Track and Field

The men's and women's track teams were in action yesterday and will also be competing tonight as they attend relays in south Texas. Yesterday, sophomore Shagayla Petty, freshman Jakesia King and senior Chad Washington competed in Austin at the Texas Relays.

"It's a real special thing, a real big event," Washington said about the Texas Relays. "It's down at Austin every year. There's a lot of people turning out, and there's a lot of professionals there. I feel like I'm going to go down there to compete first of all, but I'm also going to have a lot of fun."

Women's track coach Sara Davis said she is happy with Petty and King's accomplishments.

"I think it's a great personal achievement, because they're going into individual events," she said. "It's always an honor to qualify for a meet of that magnitude."

Today both teams will be at the Tiger Relays hosted by Trinity University in San Antonio. After this meet, the teams have three more before going to the Lone Star Conference Championship meet in San Angelo, Texas. Until then, Davis said she wants to see a steady development.

"You kind of start where you start, and with each meet you improve," Davis said.

Golf

The A&M-Commerce women's golf team will be headed for Arizona this weekend as they compete in the Grand Canyon Invitational on April 4-6, hosted by Grand Canyon University.

The women enjoyed a week off from tournaments after playing at the Midwestern State Invitational in Wichita Falls, Texas the week of March 22. Coach Louie Bledsoe is heading back to Arizona after taking the men's golf team there last week.
"The girls are really excited about the trip," Bledsoe said. "This will be the first trip to Phoenix for one of the players. The others have been at one time or another. I'm glad that we're able to take a trip like this for our players. It also helps in recruiting."
The ladies worked on a few particular areas of their game this week, according to Bledsoe.
"This week the ladies worked very hard on their short game including putting," he said. "They also put in some range time and also played at Sand Hills three times. They actually were not off as they have practiced every day."

Senior Heather Pantalion; juniors Mallory Kempf, Kathleen May, and Megan Benites; and sophomore Malonie Oats will be making the trip to Arizona.

"I hope we will play well," Bledsoe said. "The last two tournaments we have been in fifth place after the first day, but we can't hold on the second day. If we can put two good rounds together, I will be happy."

The men's team will also be in action, as they travel to Edmond, Okla., for the Kickingbird Golf Classic. The tournament runs from April 4-6 as well, and it is hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma. This tournament is also the last for the men before they go to the Lone Star Conference championship in Thackerville, Okla., on April 18.