Otte leads Aggies at tournament
Returning from an eighth-place showing in the Idaho Fall Golf Classic in Moscow, Idaho, the USU golf team will enjoy a three-week rest before their next tournament.
Senior Preston Otte started off the second round with six birdies in a row before
finishing in third place individually, five shots behind Nick Travers of Boise State University.
“Preston played fantastic as an individual,” said Coach Dean Johansen, ” I was really proud of him.”
Sophomore Devin Daniels came in second for the Aggies, placing 37th overall.
Fellow teammate, senior Justin Copier, delivered a 71, even par, on the first day and a 76 for the second, tying for 44th.
Along with Freshman Brandon Broadhead, who also shot 76 for the second round, tying him for 48th, senior Jake Blair rounded out the team with a composite score of 232.
The team’s final total is made up of the score of the top four players, in the case of a tie-breaker the fifth player’s scores would be the deciding factor.
A defeat like this was frustrating, said Johansen, because it is a tournament they know they could have won. Coming out flat the first morning slowly dug the team into a hole they couldn’t get out of, Johansen said.
“The team did not play up to their potential,” said Johansen, ” We just need to believe that we can do it.”
These players on their own and as a team have showed improvement from their last couple tournaments, said Johansen, but he knows this charismatic team can do more to better themselves. Johansen encourages the players to look presentable on the course during tournaments as well as practices, hats turned forward and shirts tucked in. He believes that this is one way to smooth out some of the rough edges that may cause poor performance on the course.
“You tend to practice and perform the way you look and feel,” Johansen said. “If you look sloppy, you get a sloppy performance.”
With plenty of time to prepare before making their way down to Cedar
City, Utah, for the Southern Utah Duel, Johansen will certainly have these players working hard to improve.
These Aggies have been having a blast on the road, and look forward to their next trip. Johansen enjoys traveling with the team, saying he always trusts them to take care of business on the course.
“If you like the kids that you’re with and you believe in them, good things will happen,” he said.
Travel will begin again for the team Oct. 21 and 22 as they head to Cedar City.
Next will be the Countrywide Home Loans Invitational in Northridge, Calif., Oct. 30 and 31.
-eawads@cc.usu.edu