ALBANY, GA -- It's almost become a rite of passage for the Darton College golf team to make an appearance in the NJCAA National Championship.
Cavaliers head coach Dale Dover has led his teams to 10 straight at the national tourney, and this year is no different. Darton will travel to Odessa, Texas on Saturday in preparation of the National Championship starting on Tuesday.
While Darton has failed to earn the top spot since winning three straight championships from ’05-‘07, the 2011 team has seen it all.
Just two weeks ago, the Cavs booked its trip to Texas by winning the region and district tournaments in a stretch of six rounds of golf in seven days. In its first year of Division One, the Cavaliers stormed to the top of the leaderboard for a district title.
DC coach Bill Jones thinks the key to a win next week is all about keeping a cool state of mind in the Texas heat.
“We’re trying to keep ‘em relaxed…that’s the biggest thing. We were really relaxed over at the District Championship, and I think that really led to the good play,” Jones said. “It’s really tough to play when you’re tensed up, and put a little too much pressure on yourself. There’s going to be some pressure out there…but there’s pressure in every golf tournament we play in.”
The first of four rounds in Odessa begins on Tuesday. Darton will have two practice rounds at the course before the tourney begins.