EDMOND (Feb. 13) -- Establishing a solid fifth man and overcoming a rugged early-season schedule are the main tasks for Central Oklahoma in 2008 and will enable the Bronchos to once again remain among the NCAA Division II elite.
UCO has four starters back from last year’s team that won four tournaments, was runner-up in the Lone Star Conference and third in the South Central Regional in just missing out on a national tournament berth, with a bevy of challengers looking to fill the fifth spot.
Senior Chance Tatum is a two-year starter and the most seasoned player on the squad, with junior Brent Cole and sophomores Zach Cleland and Colby Shrum rounding out the returning starters.
Lettermen Cooper Barrick and Ryan Sutton along with freshman Baer Aneshansley are the top contenders for the final starting berth.
"I don’t feel that we played our best golf in the fall, yet our worst finish in five tournaments was fourth," said seventh-year head coach Dax Johnston, whose team ended the fall ranked No. 11 nationally. "Our biggest downfall was whoever played the fifth man position for us averaged 78.2 and for us to be really competitive this spring that has to come down to around 75.
"I’m optimistic about what we’re capable of doing this spring. We certainly have a difficult schedule early on, but hopefully that will make us stronger and get us in position to win the conference championship and advance to the national tournament."
Shrum was UCO’s ringleader in the fall and established himself as a legitimate All-America candidate, finishing with a 71.8 stroke average and four top-five finishes in five outings.
Cole, Tatum and Cleland all had solid fall campaigns in clearly establishing themselves as starters, though they will have to continue to play well to stay in the lineup.
Barrick and Sutton played extensively last year and will threaten for a starting berth along with Aneshansley, who showed signs of what he can do in the fall.
Sophomore transfer Dax Clark, redshirt freshman Harrison Dooley III and rookies Derek Franco and Jordan Wynn could also figure in the mix.
"This team may not be the most talented team we’ve had, but it is one of the hardest-working ones," said Johnston, whose team opens the season Monday and Tuesday at the St. Edward's Invitational. "They worked very hard in the off-season with weight training and conditioning and I believe this will give us an edge as we get further into the spring season."
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