With a fall season already completed for the Billikens this
year, Saint Louis University’s men’s golf team is looking forward
to the upcoming spring season as a way to further enrich the
program.

Despite the early loss of top performer Evan Frederick due to an
injury, coach Ed Schwent believes there are other golfers who can
compete on the course for a top spot in the Conference USA
tournament.

“This is my sixth year coaching, and this year’s group has the
best players so far,” Schwent said.

A transfer out of Fresno State, junior Tony Harmon is described
as “great” by his coach. The lone senior on the team, Scott
Thompson said, “The first semester consisted of everyone jockeying
for their spot on the team, but the second semester, during our
spring season, is when we will be better as a team.”

With 24 dates to fill for meets, and the sport heavily dependent
on the weather, the split season is a welcome addition to the team,
as it also gives time off to regroup and get a lot more practice in
between the two seasons. Since the NCAA and C-USA tournaments are
in the spring, the players get to focus in on the last leg of the
season with a goal in mind.

Since the fall season has been completed, the players and staff
have the winter to condition themselves before they must regroup in
mid-February to begin practicing for their Feb. 28 contest with
West Florida.

“Our conference is probably one of the top three or four
conferences for golf in the nation, so we play in a tough one. When
the C-USA championships come around, we will be looking to place in
the top four teams,” Coach Schwent said.

On a bright note, he added, this year’s group has been shooting
the best scores in the school’s history.

Thompson said the team has benefited from working with Schwent
on an individual basis and the team is beginning to gel.

“Towards the end of this season, everyone was finding their
spot,” Thompson said.

Evan Frederick was the only Billiken to named All-Conference
last year. He ended his season prematurely with an injury and is
scheduled to have surgery soon.

He is expected to return by the time the spring season begins
next semester.