Dates: Feb. 23-24 Par: 72 Yardage: 6,725 Total Holes: 36 Format: 36 holes Mon. Play will begin with an 8:00 a.m. start Monday The Field: (15) Kansas State, Campbell, Drake, Houston, Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, McNeese St., Memphis, Mississippi, Nicholls State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Stephen F. Austin, Troy State

The Beau Chene Collegiate Classic Lineup
Name Yr-Exp Rnds. Avg.
Matt Van Cleave Jr-1L 16 72.3
Aaron Watkins Sr-3L 16 72.8
A.J. Elgert Sr-3L 16 74.5
Ben Kern So-1L 8 71.8
Josh Persons So-1L 10 74.6

Individual Competitor
Greg Douglas Sr-2L 10 76.1

Setting the Scene
The Kansas State men’s golf team will head back to the links Feb. 23 at the 15th annual Beau Chene Collegiate Classic in Mandeville, La. This will be the Wildcats’ first appearance at the Beau Chene. The trip to Louisiana marks the third year in a row that the Wildcats will play in the Bayou State. The tournament will be played at the par-72, 6,725-yard Beau Chene C.C.

Last Time Out
K-State opened its spring schedule with another top-5 finish. The Wildcats carded a combined 54-hole total of 882 to finish in fifth place. K-State has placed fifth or better in all six tournaments during 2003-04. Individually, Matt Van Cleave notched another top 10, as he tied for 7th after firing a combined score of 215 to finish 1-under par. K-State was the only school that had all five of its golfers finish in the top 40.

Familiar Foes
The Beau Chene will provide K-State with an opportunity to avenge losses to Drake and Memphis. Also a member of the Central Region, Drake got the best of the Wildcats at the Colbert Intercollegiate, when K-State finished in third place, two strokes behind Drake. For the third time this season, the Wildcats will battle Memphis. The two have split both meetings this year, with Memphis winning the Matlock last week and K-State taking home the team title at the Nestle Purina Classic. The Beau Chene also features fellow Big 12 member Iowa State. The Wildcats defeated the Cyclones at the Purina Classic.

Van Cleave Heating Up
Junior Matt Van Cleave has been the Wildcats’ most consistent golfer this season, tallying five top-10 finishes and a victory at the Purina Classic. Van Cleave currently leads the Wildcats with a stroke average of 72.31, which ranks 10th in the Big 12. The last three tournaments Van Cleave’s stroke average has been plummeting, as he’s averaged a 71.0 over his last nine rounds.

The Winning Combination?
For only the second time this season, K-State will use a lineup comprised of seniors Aaron Watkins and A.J. Elgert, alongside junior Matt Van Cleave and sophomores Ben Kern and Josh Persons. The only other time this lineup was used came at the Purina Classic, when K-State won the team title. The lone difference between the squad that stormed the competition at the Purina and the one going to Mandeville, La., is that senior Greg Douglas will compete as an individual instead of Tim Moody.

Streaking String Intact
Seniors Aaron Watkins and A.J. Elgert have participated in every tournament (13) since the first tournament (Feb. 10-11,2003) of last spring when Elgert did not participate in the Rice Intercollegiate. Watkins will be making his 22nd straight appearance. The last tournament he missed was April 8-9, 2002 at the the Branson Creek Invitational.

Mopping Up the Competition
K-State has put together a very impressive head-to-head record this season. Currently, the Wildcats are a combined 49-10 (.830) versus D-I opponents.