Team ready to tee off in paradise

This weekend, the IU men's golf team will be on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, home to numerous beaches, perpetual sunshine and 80 degree weather, making it a virtual paradise. \nBut the last thing the Hoosiers have on their minds is an early start to spring break as they prepare for the St. Croix Collegiate Classic, which begins today and runs through Sunday. \nThe Hoosiers are looking to regain the form that led them to three victories in four tournaments last fall. \n"Hopefully, (finishing tenth) will motivate us -- it woke us up a bit -- and make us work harder the rest of the spring," junior Jeff Overton said. "We just want to go down there and play real solid."\nThe field at Rio Pinar featured several southern schools, including tournament champion South Alabama and host Central Florida, two schools that have the advantage of favorable golfing conditions all year round. IU was at a disadvantage having not even practiced outside before the tournament. But with more cooperative weather, the Hoosiers found more time on the course and feel confident going into St. Croix.\n"It's tough coming out of the gate. We haven't seen grass. Playing against teams that have been out all winter is a tough thing to do," IU coach Mike Mayer said. \nThe Hoosiers will be one of 14 teams in a deep field that includes Big Ten rivals Ohio State and Penn State. Other schools set to compete include regional rivals Ball State and Xavier as well as Air Force, Akron, Eastern Michigan, Fresno State, Marshall, UNC-Wilmington, Oral Roberts, Rhode Island and Southeastern Louisiana. \n"St. Croix is a better field than Rio Pinar, and we will have to play very well to be competitive," Mayer said. "I don't know if we are ready yet to win this tournament, but, if we play up to our potential, I think we could be in the hunt before it is over."\nThe Hoosiers will send a lineup of juniors, including Jeff Overton, Heath Peters and Mike Birkenfeld, senior Ryan Cassidy and sophomore Scott Siebert into competition. Siebert returns to the lineup after missing the UCF/Rio Pinar Invitational with a broken nose. David Butwell, who took Siebert's place at Rio Pinar, will compete as an individual. \nThe Hoosiers still have confidence in this lineup and are hoping to get back on track in St. Croix.\n"We made some mistakes and weren't quite ready at Rio Pinar," Birkenfeld said. "But as long as we don't make the same mistakes, I think we'll be okay. We know we have a good team, and we just want to see what we can do."\nThe St. Croix Collegiate Classic runs from today through Sunday at the Carambola Golf Club, part of the Carambola Beach Resort. Tee times begin at 7 a.m. each day. \n-- Contact staff writer Charlie Gillingham at cgilling@indiana.edu.