The UTM golf team will open its 2004 season with two matches.

The Skyhawks will participate in the Dr. Morton B. Harris Intercollegiate Tournament in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and the Gulf Coast Collegiate Classic in Bay St. Louis, Miss.

UTM will be using a split squad for the two tournaments, which began last weekend.

Nicholls State University hosted the Gulf Coast Collegiate Classic that got under way Saturday, Sept. 11, and ran through Sept. 14.

“The Bridges Golf Course is a course that you must manage your game really well to make a good score,” said Jerry Carpenter, UTM golf coach.

Southeast Missouri State hosted the Dr. Morton B. Harris tourney, which started Sunday, Sept. 12, and also ran through Sept. 14.

“Timberlin Country Club is a golf course where we played really well last year,” Carpenter said.

“We will send some players that have some experience there, and I expect us to score well.”

The Skyhawks will be led this season by their top returning players, senior Heath Prescott, junior Reise Kelly, and sophomore Trey McNeil.

“Heath will be a solid player for us this year,” Carpenter said. “Reise has improved as much as anyone could over the summer, and Trey has worked on his game a great deal and has seen a big improvement.”

“The freshmen are looking good so far,” Carpenter added.

“Everyone will have an opportunity to play and we will find out within the first few tournaments where we stand and who our top players are.”

The next match for the Skyhawks will be Sept. 19-21 at the Buffalo Rock Southern Showdown in Birmingham, Ala.