The Lion’s Roar / Tamara Alexanda

The Lion’s Roar / Heather Jewell
Junior James Anstiss (top) helped lead the Lions to take second at the Southland Conference Men’s Golf Championship. Anstiss was voted to the first team of the Southland Conference Men’s Golf Team. Junior Paul Obermann (above) was selected with senior Lawrence Allan (not pictured) for the third team.

The University’s Lions Golf team won in second place at the Southland Conference Men’s Golf Championships at the Stonebridge Ranch Country Club. Junior James Anstiss tied for second when he shot a final-round 2-under-par 70, helping the Lions take second place at the Southland Championship on Tuesday, Apr. 19. 

The Lions golf team started the championship eleven strokes behind McNeese and had a late game after going into third place while finishing a final round 6-over 294. The Lions finished at 20-over 884 overall.

The team felt accomplished in achieving second place although it was a rough season.

“We haven’t had our greatest year and we got off to a slower start,” said junior business administration major and member of the men’s golf team Paul Obermann. “We really tried to win and we wanted to go to regionals so badly. We knew we had to win the conference to do so. Obviously we were seven points behind in the end. It was a tight match and we all fought pretty well. I think we can be pretty happy with second place. We were proud of it.”

Throughout the championship, their spark kept the team together.

“We have a really good chemistry,” said Obermann. “Most of the golf team is foreign. Out of nine guys, we have only two Americans. We’re all from different countries and cultures, but we get along so well together. We have a lot of fun together.” 

With Coach Narro’s first year with the golf team, the team feels proud of his work and achievements he has made with them.

“It’s been a year and Coach Jake has done a really good job,” said Obermann. “He’s the heart of the team, he’s a good friend and he’s really great at golf. Whenever he has to be strict and he has to get mad at us because we’re not practicing like he wants us to practice or were not doing good in school, things will get rough, but that’s a normal thing that will help. Our overall relationship is awesome and he’s an awesome guy, he’s one of us.”

Since golf is not offered at colleges in every country, some players are glad they had the chance to come to America to follow their passions while getting an education.  

“For most of us foreigners, we want to come to the United States because of the opportunity to combine college life with getting a degree and still playing a college sport,” said Obermann. 

“It only exists in the United States, so I had that main goal of developing my golf, pursuing my dream of being a professional golfer and still getting a degree. That’s what motivated me to come to college.”