Nine added for 2005-06 golf squad

The 2005-06 edition of the Missouri Southern men’s golf team will look vastly different than the 2004-05 squad. Head coach Kevin Greim has announced the addition of nine new players for the 2005-06 season.

The Lions lost four key seniors from this past year’s team and MSSU will have just two returning players from the ‘04-05 roster. Just one of those returnees, sophomore-to-be Ben Perry, has seen any collegiate playing time. To fill the void, Johnson County (Kan.) Community College transfers Eric Byers (Humboldt, Kan.), Tommy Clifford (Overland Park, Kan.) and Tyler Goecker (Kansas City, Mo.) have been added to the roster. Six freshmen have also made the decision to join the Green & Gold. They are: David Clark (Neosho, Mo.), Adam Johnson (Ozark, Mo.), Brent Moore (Berryville, Ark.), Tyler Osburn (Tahlequah, Okla.), Ryan Smith (Superior, Wis.) and Drew Stewart (Springdale, Ark.).

The big signing class figures to bring an element of competition to the Lions in 2005-06.

“We really lost a lot of golf talent,” Greim said. “But there are a couple of things I like about this group. First, with the Johnson County guys, we have three players who are definitely ready to play immediately. But at the same time, I think some of the freshmen will be good enough right away to really push those guys and Ben Perry for traveling spots. Competition for traveling spots is something we really didn’t have last year. We’ll have that competition next year and guys will have to keep their games sharp.”

Byers was a second-team all-conference performer in 2005 at JCCC. As a prep junior at Humboldt High School, he finished as state individual runner-up while leading the Cubs to the state title. Byers lettered all four years in high school golf.

Clifford was also a second-team all-conference golfer this past season at JCCC. He was the District 3 individual champion and had the Cavaliers’ best-ever finish (18th) at nationals. Clifford was a three-year golf letterman at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Goecker grabbed first-team all-conference honors this year and tied for conference individual champion honors. A former high school teammate of current Lion Perry, he was a three-year all-conference performer.

Byers, Clifford and Goecker played key roles in leading JCCC to the Jayhawk Community College Conference title this past season.

Clark, a four-year letterwinner at Neosho High School, was a Missouri Class 4 state qualifier as a senior. Johnson, home schooled, captured first-place honors at the 2004 Southwest Missouri Junior Golf Association (SWMJGA) tournament. Moore, an all-state golfer, comes to Southern as a four-year letterman in golf from Berryville High School. He has been a four-year all-district and all-region performer.

Osburn lettered all four-years at Tahlequah High School and won all-conference accolades each season. He is a three-time state tournament qualifier and had the 2002 tournament’s low round of 69. Smith, of Superior High School, is a four-time all-conference player. He led the Spartans to two conference titles. SHS also produced departing MSSU senior golfer Andrew Koehler. Stewart lettered four years at Springdale High School and helped his team to a sixth-place finish at the Arkansas AAAAA state tournament as a junior and again as a senior. Stewart’s low round for 18 holes is a 71.

Missouri Southern finished second in the NCAA Division II Central Regional earlier this month after finishing fourth in the final Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association yearly standings. The Lions also captured the tournament title in the 12-team Central Region Invitational at Iron Horse Golf Club in Leawood, Kan.


	May 19, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nine added for 2005-06 golf squad The 2005-06 edition of the Missouri Southern men’s golf team will look vastly different than the 2004-05 squad. Head coach Kevin Greim has announced the addition of nine new players for the 2005-06 season. The Lions lost four key seniors from this past year’s team and MSSU will have just two returning players from the ‘04-05 roster. Just one of those returnees, sophomore-to-be Ben Perry, has seen any collegiate playing time. To fill the void, Johnson County (Kan.) Community College transfers Eric Byers (Humboldt, Kan.), Tommy Clifford (Overland Park, Kan.) and Tyler Goecker (Kansas City, Mo.) have been added to the roster. Six freshmen have also made the decision to join the Green & Gold. They are: David Clark (Neosho, Mo.), Adam Johnson (Ozark, Mo.), Brent Moore (Berryville, Ark.), Tyler Osburn (Tahlequah, Okla.), Ryan Smith (Superior, Wis.) and Drew Stewart (Springdale, Ark.). The big signing class figures to bring an element of competition to the Lions in 2005-06. “We really lost a lot of golf talent,” Greim said. “But there are a couple of things I like about this group. First, with the Johnson County guys, we have three players who are definitely ready to play immediately. But at the same time, I think some of the freshmen will be good enough right away to really push those guys and Ben Perry for traveling spots. Competition for traveling spots is something we really didn’t have last year. We’ll have that competition next year and guys will have to keep their games sharp.” Byers was a second-team all-conference performer in 2005 at JCCC. As a prep junior at Humboldt High School, he finished as state individual runner-up while leading the Cubs to the state title. Byers lettered all four years in high school golf. Clifford was also a second-team all-conference golfer this past season at JCCC. He was the District 3 individual champion and had the Cavaliers’ best-ever finish (18th) at nationals. Clifford was a three-year golf letterman at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Goecker grabbed first-team all-conference honors this year and tied for conference individual champion honors. A former high school teammate of current Lion Perry, he was a three-year all-conference performer. Byers, Clifford and Goecker played key roles in leading JCCC to the Jayhawk Community College Conference title this past season. Clark, a four-year letterwinner at Neosho High School, was a Missouri Class 4 state qualifier as a senior. Johnson, home schooled, captured first-place honors at the 2004 Southwest Missouri Junior Golf Association (SWMJGA) tournament. Moore, an all-state golfer, comes to Southern as a four-year letterman in golf from Berryville High School. He has been a four-year all-district and all-region performer. Osburn lettered all four-years at Tahlequah High School and won all-conference accolades each season. He is a three-time state tournament qualifier and had the 2002 tournament’s low round of 69. Smith, of Superior High School, is a four-time all-conference player. He led the Spartans to two conference titles. SHS also produced departing MSSU senior golfer Andrew Koehler. Stewart lettered four years at Springdale High School and helped his team to a sixth-place finish at the Arkansas AAAAA state tournament as a junior and again as a senior. Stewart’s low round for 18 holes is a 71. Missouri Southern finished second in the NCAA Division II Central Regional earlier this month after finishing fourth in the final Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association yearly standings. The Lions also captured the tournament title in the 12-team Central Region Invitational at Iron Horse Golf Club in Leawood, Kan.