As the men’s golf team took on the Rod Myers Invitational at the Duke University Golf Club last weekend coming in tenth place overall, the team is looking ahead filled with positivity and eagerness for a strong season with a variety of new players.

“The new players bring a new life and competition to the team,” said junior on the team, Preston Harrington. “It’s a different dynamic and a new perspective.”

Head Coach Matthew Clark believes that the biggest obstacle that the team will face this year is the fact that the team is very young at the moment. But Clark views this obstacle as something that is extremely important in the team’s success.

“The exciting thing about youth is that you keep getting better after each event which is the goal to be a much improved team when we compete in the CAA’s next Spring,” said Clark.

As the team continues to practice and prepare for the upcoming tournaments, Clark is keeping the team focused which he believes will provide the team with a successful season.

“My mindset is to keep them focused on the process that is going to help us reach our goals instead of always focusing on the goals,” said Clark. “Our main objective will be to control what we can control over every shot and then move forward to the next shot. If we can stay focused on the process this season, I am confident that we will have a great season.”

CAA Rookie-of-the-Year last season, Thomas Eldridge, is still looking to be the best he can possible be this season and is holding himself to his own standards.

“My expectations haven’t really changed since last year,” said Eldridge. “I wouldn’t say I hold myself to a different standard because I won Rookie-of-the-Year, I would say that I hold myself to my own standard and usually that’s pretty high by itself. Sometimes it may even be too high.”

During the season, the men will travel to Ireland to compete in a college tournament at the end of October. For many members this will be their first time out of the country and there is nothing but excitement throughout the team.

“We get to play some of the best courses in the country,” said Eldridge. “The courses over there are a lot different than the ones over here, as well as the weather. Since everybody is going on the trip it will make it that much more fun as a team.”

Making a trip to Ireland isn’t the only thing that members of the team will be involved with this season. The men’s golf team will be competing in this year’s 28th Annual Cape Fear Literacy Council Spelling Bee along with the women’s volleyball team on Sept. 17. Four of the members from the men’s golf team will be competing under the team name, “The Finessors.”

“We are very honored that we have been invited to participate in the 2015 CFLC Spelling Bee,” said Clark. “It supports an amazing cause and the guys are excited about the event, it will be a fun night.”

The CFLC helps more than 3,500 adult learners in the area and recruits, trains, and certifies over 2,000 volunteer tutors.

The team’s next tournament will take place in Chapel Hill as they compete in the Tar Heel Intercollegiate on Oct. 3.