Husker Men’s Golf team recognizes strengths, prepares for Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate tournament

There is no substitute for experience.

The Nebraska men's golf team understands the old saying well enough. Most of the team is relatively new to the college golf scene and has had to adjust to their new surroundings on the fly.

"Without a lot of college golf experience, we need to get used to the new courses we are playing and the new teams that we are playing," sophomore Manuel Lavin said. "I think with a little more experience in college, we will play at a better level."

The Huskers are led by a senior, Scott Willman, but the rest of the team's top golfers are relatively young compared to teams around the nation and around the conference. At last week's Big Ten Match Play tournament in Bradenton Fla., the Huskers sent out a freshman, two sophomores, two juniors, and Willman as their top six.

This weekend, in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate tournament, they will likely send out a similar lineup. Most of the team hasn't played this course before, but will be looking to pick up any experience on the course that they can get before the tournament begins on Saturday.

"It allows you to know exactly what shot to take," Lavin said. "We get a practice round, but sometimes you don't know what shot or how to get to a place on the course. That will come along with a little more time."

Although they haven't been able to get outside since playing last, the Huskers are still hoping to make their greatest improvement from game one to game two as they go to Palm Desert, Calif., for their second tournament of the spring.

"It's definitely different going from hitting off mats to ‘go play golf,'" sophomore Ryan Grassel said.

"Every match that you can play in is a big step. It's good to play as early as you can because every match that you play is a step that you can get ahead."

In an effort to do just that, the team will be participating in a meet with a few teams before the weekend's tournament.

"It will be like a practice," Lavin said. "We are going to play some of the same teams, and we will play a similar course to the one we will play this weekend. So that will help us."

Beyond pure practice, Lavin outlined a specific strategy for success this weekend.

"We are trying to focus on the practice round, and knowing what shot to play on what hole, taking more notes than usual," he said. "We are talking more so that we know how to attack the golf course and improve our score."

Instrumental to the flow of knowledge among the golfers is Willman. The senior has been through the schedule more than a couple times, and isn't afraid to help his fellow teammates with a piece of advice here or there.

"Scott is a senior and he is the best player," Grassel said. "He is the definite leader on our team, at least to me. I'll ask him what to do, what to wear, that kind of stuff. He is a pretty good guy to copy."

lannyholstein@dailynebraskan.com