Golfers showing swagger

Brad McMakin has noticed a major change in his golfers as they’ve prepared to open the fall season, his third as Arkansas’ head coach.

“Before, they acted like they could win, they wanted to win, but they didn’t really believe,” McMakin said. “Now I can see a complete difference in their attitudes and their preparation and the way their confidence is.”

Senior Andrew Landry and junior David Lingmerth, whom McMakin called Arkansas’ “really, really good one-two punch,” have been particularly assertive. The two told McMakin earlier this week they expect Arkansas to win its season-opening event, the 54-hole University of Maryland Intercollegiate being played Saturday and Sunday.

McMakin said he shares his players’ optimism.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I would expect us to have a chance to win the golf tournament, which I haven’t felt going into a tournament since I’ve been here,” McMakin said.

The newfound confidence stems not just from the play of Landry and Lingmerth, but freshman Ethan Tracy of Hilliard, Ohio. McMakin said Tracy should give the Hogs a needed boost as the No. 3 player in the lineup.

Also traveling this weekend are seniors Will Osborne and Fort Smith’s Allen McFerran. McFerran had a 69. 8 per-round stroke average while enjoying a successful summer season, both in local and regional events.

McMakin said McFerran, who currently is No. 5 in the lineup, also could provide a big boost for the Razorbacks as they try to return to the NCAA regionals for the first time since 2005. “It’s just getting Allen to be comfortable like he is when he plays the Arkansas State Golf Association stuff,” McMakin said.. “It’s time for him to get over the nerves and stand up and do what he can do. “ I think we’ve got the right pieces to the puzzle to getting the program back to where everybody expects it to be.” WOMEN’S GOLF

Losing Lewis Arkansas’ women’s golf team also will compete in Maryland this weekend, at the Georgetown-hosted NCAA Fall Preview. The 54-hole event will be played Sunday and Monday and will be Arkansas’ first competition since the graduation of 2007 NCAA national champion and two-time SEC champion Stacy Lewis. Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor laughed when asked if she was suffering from Lewis-related withdrawal symptoms, but she said the 15 th-ranked Razorbacks are ready to go.

Arkansas’ lineup will consist of senior Lucy Nunn, juniors Alex Schulte and Kristin Ingram, sophomore Kelli Shean and freshman Katy Nugent.

“We were successful last year with Stacy, but there was also a supporting crew that really helped out and helped us be successful in a lot of our events,” Estes-Taylor said. “We will definitely miss Stacy, but we’ll try to build on what we did last year and do really well.”

Estes-Taylor has been particularly pleased with the early play of Nugent, a native of Andover, Kan.

“She’s a competitor,” Estes-Taylor said. “We’ve been working on her golf swing a little bit, getting it a little more consistent and compact, but she grinds really well. If she’s struggling a little bit, she still knows how to get the ball in the hole and can get it up and down.

“ I’ve watched her play for several summers now, and she’s got a lot of game. I think over the years we’ll continue to see her improve a ton.”

SOCCER To-do list The Arkansas soccer team could get its toughest test to date this weekend when it faces Samford in Jacksonville, Ala. Arkansas (2-1-0 ) first plays Jacksonville State (0-2-1 ) on Friday, then meets Samford (0-3-0 ) on Sunday. Despite its record, Samford returns nine starters from last year’s team that earned an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. Arkansas Coach Gordon Henderson went over a quick checklist when asked what his team must do to enjoy a successful weekend. The list included: Getting better at building its attack from the back line. Being more consistent in “the attacking third of the field.” Making the most of the team’s improved scoring chances. VOLLEYBALL Juggling job The Robert Pulliza era got off to a rocky start last week in Colorado as Arkansas opened the volleyball season 0-3. Pulliza said the Razorbacks must cut down on unforced errors, improve their servereceive and be a more consistent serving team if they hope to win any matches at this weekend’s Regency Suites / Georgia Tech Classic. Arkansas will play Georgia Tech (3-0 ) on Friday, No. 25 Michigan (3-0 ) on Saturday, then play at Georgia State (2-1 ) on Sunday.

Arkansas is expected to be without senior outside hitter Christina Lawrence (abdomen strain ), who saw limited action last week. The loss of Lawrence caused Pulliza to shuffle his lineup, shifting Fort Smith junior Kristin Seaton to a middle blocker spot and increasing playing time at the outside positions for freshman Kelli Stipanovich and sophomore Heather Royal.

Pulliza said Seaton’s versatility gives Arkansas a chance to get its first victory this weekend.

“She’s a player that’s been great,” Pulliza said. “She’s been giving us great flexibility. She’s played left side, she’s played middle, she’s played right side. Wherever we tell her to go, she goes and she gives us all she’s got.”