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University of North Carolina Athletics
The Carolina Men's Golf Team Begins Play In Spring Campaign
February 26, 2011 | Men's Golf
Feb. 26, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The North Carolina men's golf team opens its spring campaign tomorrow at the Seahawk Intercollegiate in Wilmington, N.C. The 54-hole event will continue through Monday at the Country Club of Landfall, Nicklaus Course, which features a par 72, 7,050-yard layout.
Coming off a strong fall season, which included a record-breaking win at the UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate, the UNC men's golf team is excited to begin the spring schedule.
The victory in Greensboro featured a blistering second round in which the Tar Heels shot a 20-under 268, the lowest round in school history. Carolina went on to finish with a 31-under 833 total and each member of the North Carolina team finished in the top 20.
"It all just sort of came together there at the Bridgestone in Greensboro," said Inman. "A lot of people have asked me if I was surprised that we played like that and I say, `No, I see our guys play that well every day.' But it is really nice when things are easy and seem too be going your way and you're making birdies. So that was a lot of fun to watch."
Prior to the breakthrough performance in Greensboro, North Carolina struggled to consistently meet the goals they set for their fall season.
"Our team came up with some goals and we really want to stick to them," said Inman. "And one of our team goals was to be in the top five of every tournament because that really gives us a chance to win golf tournaments every week. Now, obviously, we had a couple tournaments where we didn't finish in the top five, but we were continuing to get better and guys were practicing hard."
The Tar Heels will rely this spring on the experience and leadership of a trio of seniors in Kevin O'Connell, Henry Zaytoun III, and Philip Chauncey.
Senior Kevin O'Connell, of Cary, N.C., averaged 75.38 strokes last season in 32 rounds of play. He also carded two top 15 finishes last year at the Maryland Intercollegiate in the fall of 2009 and the Wolfpack Intercollegiate in the spring of 2010. Kevin lowered his stroke average to 73.75 in four outings during the fall. Inman is encouraged by O'Connell's improved ball striking and has high hopes for him in the spring.
"Kevin has worked very diligently on his golf swing," said Inman. "He came in and figured out what he was really good at and what he needed to work on. And he was struggling with his ball striking, but his ball striking is much more consistent now. He has found a teacher that he really trusts and he's hitting the ball much better and much farther right now. So he's kind of getting that edge back that he had as a freshman and sophomore."
Henry Zaytoun III, from Raleigh, N.C., is also a talented and experienced senior. In the fall of 2009, he captured his first collegiate individual title as co-champion of the Maryland Intercollegiate. Zaytoun experienced continued success in the spring of 2010, finishing in a tie for third at the River Landing Intercollegiate and in a tie for seventh at the Wolfpack Intercollegiate.
"Henry has really become a more consistent player," said Inman. "I have to kind of back him off a little bit because he tries so hard and wants to be so perfect--that he kind of gets in his own way a lot of times. And so we need to get him relaxed and get him having fun out there. And when he does, he wins golf tournaments. So again, going into his last semester I know he has been working really hard and is just itching to get out there and play."
Durham, N.C. native, Philip Chauncey, rounds out an experienced senior class. Chauncey experienced great success early in his college career, highlighted by an individual title at the Duke Coca-Cola Individual Collegiate in the fall of 2008. While he only played a few rounds in the fall, Inman expects Chauncey's hard work in the weight room to pay off this spring.
"Obviously Philip didn't have too many chances in the fall," said Inman. "He has had a little bit of lackluster play, but he has been working hard in the weight room and is really working to raise his level of play. And I am expecting really good things out of him in the spring, too. This is his last semester and I know he really wants to go out with a bang."
Carolina has a good mix of youth to go along with its experience. Leading the youth movement is sophomore Michael McGowan, from Southern Pines, N.C. McGowan built off a strong freshman season that featured a top five finish at the Maryland Intercollegiate in the fall of 2009. In North Carolina's victory at the Bridgestone, McGowan converted 18 birdies over three rounds to lead the Tar Heels with a 13-under 203 total and third-place finish overall. Michael fired a six-under 66 in both the second and third rounds, matching his career low on consecutive days. Inman attributes McGowan's success in Greensboro to his improved putting.
"Michael actually kind of struggled right at the beginning of the fall, but he started getting a lot better towards the end of the fall and started making putts," said Inman. "If he can get his putter going, like a lot of people, he can really play well. He did that in Greensboro and it makes things a lot easier when putts are going in. Michael is just a real laid-back, easy-going and good-natured type of person. And, you know, we need him to be that Michael McGowan every week, because he can really do it."
Fellow sophomore Clark Palmer, from Augusta, Ga., has already seen improvement from his freshman campaign. Palmer carded four rounds in the fall en route to a 75.10 stroke average and two top 20 finishes. He finished tied for 13th at the International Collegiate and tied for 19th at the UNCG Bridgestone Golf Collegiate.
"Clark has really started to figure out college golf," said Inman. "He struggled a little his freshman year when he didn't get in the lineup but he's gotten into the lineup and he's become a much more consistent player. In Greensboro he had a really good round--shot a 67. You know, he's one of the fastest players. He's figured out how to get his scores down. And by working in the weight room, he has become a much longer player. And that's going to make things a lot easier."
Matt Raudenbush, a junior from Pine Valley, N.J., saw the most action of his collegiate career this fall and is looking to build momentum heading into the spring.
"He's still trying to figure some things out with his game right now but he is one of the longest hitters in college golf," said Inman. "And we just have to figure out how to keep it in the fairway. But he wants to continue to have a long swing and works very, very hard. And I couldn't ask for more from him as far as work ethic in the weight room and on and off the golf course. He's a very well rounded individual and he can shoot some low scores."
Junior Patrick Barrett, a native of Pinehurst, N.C., will look to contribute more this spring. Inman is particularly encouraged by his work ethic on and off the golf course.
"Patrick has not played a lot for us but he is an incredible young man," said Inman. "And something we don't have is a reward for performance in the weight room, but if we did, he would be winning that award. Because he just does everything right and he works really hard."
Finally, freshman Sean Jacklin, from Bradenton, Fla., is hoping to contribute to the team's success this spring. Inman is excited about Sean and notes that he is playing some of the best golf in qualifying rounds for his spring campaign.
"Sean is playing some great golf this spring," said Inman. "He is first for us in qualifying rounds so far with a 66 and 69 in two of the rounds. So he's playing very well right now. I was playing with him when he shot the 66 and that was fun to watch. So he has a lot of ability and we've just got to get him on track as far as getting all of his schoolwork done and being prepared and figuring out the whole college thing. And that's the hardest part for a lot of freshman--the time management and going to class and all these things to do when no one is standing over you. So he is on track, though and I really see Sean playing well for us."
Inman hopes the combination of experience and youth among his Tar Heels will lead to consistency and sustained success in the spring season.
"We want to be in the top five in every tournament," said Inman. "And not just finish in the top five but give ourselves a chance to win. Because when we do, when we give ourselves a chance to win, we have won golf tournaments. We have won three golf tournaments in the last couple years. So when we get in position, we get it done. So the key is getting in that position. And it comes from being consistent. We want consistency from top-to-bottom in the lineup. Not just one guy playing well one day and another playing well another day, but it's three or four good scores each day."
And if that happens, it could be another championship season for the Tar Heels.
Players Mentioned
