The ISU men’s golf team has had a two week break, but now it’s getting ready to head south to Louisiana for its next tournament.

“We have been able to be out on the course,” said coach Andrew Tank. “We’ve played nine holes and had different games going on in that, whether it is with short game and wedge game.”

Getting out on the course is finally allowing the team to practice different techniques, and that might be what it needs to improve its game.

Tank said the team is right on the verge of everyone playing well and everyone shooting well at the same tournament. The team’s main focus during the past two weeks has been to improve its short game.

“We have been really working on scoring and really focusing on the game 100 yards and in,” Tank said.

The coach is not the only one that believes the team should focus on its short game.  The players are also concentrating on improving that part of their individual game.

“I think we really need to be focusing on our short game,” said freshman Scott Fernandez. “We really need to try and avoid those ‘3-putts.’”

Coming off a fourth place finish at the Border Olympics tournament, Tank is expecting the team to continue to step up its game and continue forward.  Their next competition is the LSU National Invitational in Baton Rouge, La.

“I guess I don’t really have an expectation of a result,” Tank said. “I am expecting for us to really have a good team performance.”

Being able to practice outside is great, but there is one big difference between the golf courses in Iowa and Louisiana. The grass planted at most courses in Iowa is Kentucky Blue Grass, while Bermuda Grass is the most popular in Louisiana.

“We have been fortunate to have played on Bermuda quite a bit this spring, so it really shouldn’t be an issue,” Tank said.

Hoping to continue its success and achieve better results, the ISU men’s golf team will start its first round on Saturday and will conclude on Sunday.