SHREVEPORT, La. – One swing of the club kept Brock Polhill out of the lineup for Wichita State's first two fall tournaments. Countless extra swings helped him earn his way back in.
 
Polhill will make his 2019-20 debut on Saturday when the Shocker men's golf team opens play at the David Toms Intercollegiate.
 
The sophomore from Edmond, Okla. had the team's sixth-best score across seven preseason qualifying rounds; one shot back of fifth-place. Lineups, however, are capped at five entries. So while his teammates trekked to West Virginia and Colorado for September tournaments, Polhill stayed behind.
 
"He was extremely devastated," head coach Judd Easterling said. "Ever since then it's given him a little bit more motivation."
 
With two-and-a-half weeks between events, Easterling held another series of five qualifying rounds. Polhill not only cracked the top-five this time, but finished with the best score the six participants.
 
"Hard work pays off," Easterling said." I know he's excited to get back in the lineup."
 
WSU is making its first-ever appearance at LSU's annual home tournament, which is named for Tiger alumnus and 2001 PGA Champion, David Toms. Action from Southern Trace Country Club begins Saturday with two rounds of golf and concludes Sunday morning with the final 18 holes.
 
Live scoring will be available throughout the weekend via golfstat.
 

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DAVID TOMS INTERCOLLEGIATE:
Date: Saturday-Sunday; Oct. 5-6
Host: LSU
Site: Shreveport, La.
Course: Southern Trace Country Club
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,143
Tee Times: 8:30 a.m. CT (both days); shotgun start
Format: 36-18; 5-Count-4
Live Scoring: GolfStat
 
THE FIELD (12 Teams):
Arkansas Tech, Central Arkansas, Jacksonville State, LSU, McNeese State, Memphis, Nicholls, North Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Louisiana-Monroe, New Orleans and Wichita State.
 
SHOCKER LINEUP:
1. Dawson Lewis (So.) – 71.50 stroke average; Team-high 24 birdies.
2. Zac Owens (So.) – Team-low 71.17 stroke average; T- 28^th at Ram Master Inv. (Sep. 16-17)
3. Brock Polhill (So.) – Making his season debut
4. Grayson Wallace (So.) – Career-low 18 (71) and 54 (222) at the Joe Feaganes (Sep. 9-10)
5. Joe Bultman (Fr.) – Broke par in his first college round (-1, 70) at Joe Feaganes (Sep. 9)
 

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JUDD EASTERLING ON…
 
… A 17-day break from competition:
"We worked pretty hard. We had five rounds of qualifying in between the second and third event. We got some good rounds in at Flint Hills, Sand Creek and the Wichita Country Club. Guys competed hard. I think we've got five guys competing at the LSU event that are ready to go, and they're prepared, so we've done everything we can leading up to this event to hopefully play some good golf."
 
… Playing for the first time at the David Toms:
"The tournament is played on Bermuda grass greens, which we need to get accustomed to, since that's where conference is going to be. It's a decent field, really good golf course, and we're looking forward to it."
 
… The team's mindset:
"I think the culture is very solid. These guys all get along. Really positive outlook on the rest of the semester. We've worked hard. These guys are putting in the time with flight scope, using our indoor building, we've had some good weather lately. Some good things are happening. Now it's just a matter of getting down there and posting some good scores."
 

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UP NEXT:
The Shockers return to action, Oct. 14-15, at the Herb Wimberly Invitational in Las Cruces, N.M. and finish out the fall season Oct. 28-29 at the inaugural Intercollegiate at Innisbrook in Palm Harbour, Fla.