Puma Men's Golf traveled to Avondale, AZ to compete in the Estrella Mountain Invite last weekend.  The event was won by South Mountain Community College.  The Pumas shot +8 as a team and fifth place in the event.

The Pumas were led by team captain, Beau Autery.  He shot 72-69 = -1 for the tournament.  Those rounds placed him in the top ten. Coach Palmer said, "Beau looked very good out there. And like most golfers, he could have gone much lower if a few putts had fallen.  Even though he has struggled by his standards, he continues to figure things out.  It's mostly mental but we have been working on that and it is showing, especially when he comes in with under par rounds." 

Owen Slusher shot 71-72 = +1 for the tournament.  Coach Palmer stated, "Owen is a great player.  He never gives up. He will only get better, once he learns to minimize his errors, his scores will be under par consistently."

Andrew Polaha competed in his first tournament this spring for the Pumas and shot a much needed 72-73 = +3.  "Andrew really carries himself well on the course.  He doesn't show a lot of emotion while he plays, but when he does, it's usually a smile. I always emphasize that a player must control his or her emotions.  He does that very well."

Others competing for the Pumas were:

Keelan Cole 75-74 = +7

Isaac Ruiz 78-72 = +8

Davis Mack 77-83 = +18

Coach Palmer said this after the tournament. "I am very proud of these men.  This is our last tournament of the regular season.  We had a great bounce back tournament.  We shot seven over as a team for day one and shot one over as a team for day two.  The potential for all of these men is really high.  If they keep working on the simple things, their games will be unstoppable.  We have a long journey, but that's golf. They are young, but they have matured greatly in this first year with this program.  Maturity is necessary to be successful. It's been a pleasure coaching them and watching them grow and mature as men.  Now we have regionals to prepare for.  We have nothing to lose and everything to gain!"

The Pumas will compete April 27-30 at Corta Bella golf course in the NJCAA Region 1 Men's Golf Tournament. The top two teams will advance to the NJCAA DII Men's Golf National Championship being held in Plymouth, IN May 23-26.