Experience can be a big factor in the outcome of tournaments. For the ISU men’s golf team, it is relying on the experience of senior Nate McCoy at the next tournament.

As the Cyclones start the Texas-San Antonio Invitational on Monday, they are hoping McCoy’s three years’ experience playing the course can help them.

“McCoy has been playing at the tournament longer than I’ve been a coach here,” said coach Andrew Tank. “He will be able to show us the course layout and what to expect for the tournament.”

Last year at the tournament, McCoy finished in a tie for 18th, but with experience on his side he is expecting a better outcome this year.

“I feel pretty confident going into the tournament,” McCoy said. “I know what to expect and how the course is laid out and three years’ experience that I can use to help make better shots.”

With five underclassmen on the team, they also will go to McCoy for his leadership at the first spring semester tournament.

“He has played there before and can show us what shots to take and how to approach the course,” said freshman Scott Fernandez. “He has a lot of experience that we can use to help us at the tournament.”

In addition to three years playing at the tournament, Tank said McCoy has played in different weather in San Antonio that can help the team.

“McCoy has played there and knows what to expect in all different weather situations,” Tank said.

Even though the team is relying on McCoy for his experience at the tournament Monday and Tuesday, he said he is focused on making better shots.

“I really just want to focus on different parts of the game and make those better for this weekend,” McCoy said. “We all have areas that we need to work on to improve. Chipping and putting are two areas of the game were we could improve the most.”

At the last official tournament of the fall semester, McCoy led the team to its first-place finish by finishing first in the individual part of the tournament.

Last weekend in the spring season warm-up in Arizona, McCoy won both of his matches. McCoy and junior Borja Virto were the only two players to win both matches.

“Our guys played pretty solid last week considering the layoff,” Tank said. “That will give the team confidence moving forward not only this week in Texas but the rest of the spring.”