McNeese State's Cowboys golf team tees off its spring schedule in two weeks, and for the past three days the players have been going through early qualifying for the five spots the team will have in the upcoming (Feb. 4-5) Jacksonville State (Florida)-hosted Sea Best Invitational at TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville.
New to the Cowboys this spring is interim head coach Mike Fluty, who is also the head coach for the women's team.
Fluty accepted the post on an interim basis to help the team get through the spring, after which McNeese is expected to conduct a nationwide search for a new head coach. Austin Burk, who held the position for the past six years, recently resigned to enter private business.
Fluty is no stranger to coaching men and women at the same time. During a four-year stint at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, prior to joining McNeese, Fluty coached both teams, leading the women to two conference titles and a trip to the national NAIA championship tournament, and the boys to top-three league finishes all four years.
"After meetings with both teams about how things will work out, I found that everyone is onboard and anxious to get started," Fluty said.
He will receive volunteer help from former Cowboys standout and Hall of Fame member Billy Gabbert and Quitman Moon.
"My travel will be crazy as I have nine trips to make between now and the middle of April," Fluty said. "Billy will be doing some traveling with the boys team when we have an overlap.
"I have been very impressed with the attitude and willingness of all the players to accept what has happened. We will work together to make sure that McNeese has a good spring season. That is my focus right now."
Seniors Blake Elliott, Sutton Farmer and Nicklas Mattner along with sophomore Reid Giardina are expected to lead the team. The four posted the top averages in the fall, with Elliott leading with a 70.36 mark followed by Farmer
(73.91), Giardina (76) and Mattner at 76.78.
Elliott concluded the fall schedule ranked No. 47 in the nation after winning the Warrior Princeville Invitational in Hawaii and placing second in the Quail Valley Collegiate.
