The Campbellsville University men’s golf team is making noise in the NAIA, sitting at No.14 in the latest rankings. With a string of impressive finishes, the Tigers have secured six top-three finishes out of the last seven tournaments, securing a spot as a dominant team on the course. The Tigers look to continue their momentum and show the NAIA they have the talent and the team to compete with the best in the nation.
“To be successful this year, we will need a lot of hard work and also a greater will to succeed than the other universities we compete against,” sophomore Corentin Hue said. “We don’t have the best facilities in the country at all, but we might have one of the best teams in the country. We just need to be willing to practice very, very hard to achieve our goals.”
While focusing on lowering the scores on tournament days, the Tigers have also found that focusing on growing the team outside of the course has helped them become stronger. By fostering a stronger sense of unity and common ground, the Tigers have built a culture that extends beyond golf. Showcasing it’s not just about talent but a shared purpose.
“I feel like the team has been getting way better golf-wise since I first got here a year and a half ago,” Hue said. “We have been getting better golf-wise but also mental-wise. The team spirit is definitely way bigger than before. One thing that helped is that we started to do Bible study all together. We pretty much all share the same faith and so we can bond over something way more important in life than golf.”
With the team’s eyes on returning to the national championship again this year, the Tigers keep a strong focus on preparing for this year’s conference tournament, as it is the best chance for them to get the revenge they want. While focusing on their goal, the team has made it a priority to make sure they are all ready to play their best-come conference tournament day.
“I would say the conference is the main tournament,” graduate student Kevin Latchayya said, “just because everything matters in the tournament and it’s going to be the best chance for us to get into the national championship.”
Despite the Tigers having six top-three finishes and reaching No.14 in the nation, they still feel they have a long way to go. The focus is not on past success but more so on continued improvement both individually and as a team. The Tigers are determined to push forward and continue to be the best they can be for each other.
“I expect the best from them,” Latchayya said, “showing up and having a good attitude while also doing what I can do to help them. I expect them to play for more than just scores because you can’t always control them.”
Tiger’s Head Coach Rick Davis instills in his players that golf is just a game, and they should embrace it and enjoy each round. Although they are off to a hot start, he wants them to focus on staying dialed in and not letting the end stretch stress them out. Coach Davis has high expectations for his team and never fails to embrace his core values when coaching.
“Be totally locked in during each round and never give up,” Coach Davis said. “To be grinders and to keep pushing forward… To let go of the previous shot, good or bad.”
The Tigers have had some stand-out performances on the course this season, with Latchayya picking up an individual win at the LTU Heritage Hill Invite scoring three under for the tournament helping the Tigers secure a second-place finish. The Tigers traveled to London, Kentucky, March 31-April 1, where they were a part of the Cumberland Patriots Invite. Hue had a third-place finish, Latchayya had a fourth-place finish and Chase Wilson had a 10th-place finish.
The Tigers look to continue their momentum at the Freed-Hardman Invite at Ross Creek Golf Course in Clifton, Tennessee, April 6-8.
To keep up with everything Tigers golf, visit cvilletigers.com.
