ANDERSON, S.C. - After not opening its spring slate until early March, the Anderson University men's golf team will make up for lost time with four events in the span of five weeks during the spring.

Head coach Danny Neal's roster is dominated by underclassmen, with four freshmen, a lone sophomore, a pair of juniors and a senior comprising the lineup.

The freshman tandem of Alex Merriman and Forrest Fowler led the Trojans during the fall campaign, with Fowler claiming the lowest stroke average (77.4) through four events, while Merriman posted the team's best finish in three of the four tourneys.

Neal said that Fowler "has played one and two for us and has played pretty well. He has had some good tournaments," while noting that Merriman is "our number one player [going into the spring]. He had a couple of good rounds in the fall. He is a very motivated and goal-oriented young man and really has a strong desire to better himself and help the team. I know he would like to be more consistent with his scoring."

Left-handed freshman Alex Charping, who shared the 38th spot at the Anderson University Invitational last fall, "is a great kid and hard worker," added Neal. "He hasn't had an opportunity to play much yet, but has a strong desire and is working hard every day. He does everything we ask of him."

Fellow freshman Ryan Kincaid, who posted a 79.5 stroke average in four rounds of action at the AU Invitational and the Etowah Valley Intercollegiate, "has a lot of talent, ability and potential," said Neal. "He is working hard at practice and hopefully we can get him playing well."

The loner senior, CJ Messana, a native of Plantation, Fla., claimed the 40th spot at the AU Invitational with a two-day 170 and "has been fairly consistent for us at four and five a lot," added Neal. "He is constantly working to keep himself in the lineup."

Junior David Wachter is a senior academically who has another year of eligibility and Neal is hoping the Hickory, N.C. native will return next year as well for graduate school. Wachter is a walk-on who worked himself into the No. two spot in the lineup a year ago. In the fall, he posted a 78.1 stroke average, while finishing 19th at the AU Invitational with a two-day 154.

"David really works hard on his game and has a strong competitive drive about him," said Neal. "We are really excited about the possibility of getting him back next year."

Neal describes junior Rob Warren as a golfer who "has been a good player for us and has gotten a fair amount of experience. Rob is always open and willing to learn and get better. He works hard at practice and wants to do whatever he can to help the team."

Warren's best finish in the fall was a tie for 28th at Cobbs Glen, while averaging 80.8 strokes in eight rounds. Sophomore Payton Whitlock competed in three fall tourneys and compiled an 81.5 stoke average. The Dorman High School product earned 36th at the AU Invitational last September.

"Patton has limited experience as a tournament golfer," noted Neal. "He is actually still learning the game and needs to continue to try to takes shots off his score."

Anderson opens the season on March 2-3 at the Richard Rendleman Memorial, hosted by Catawba at the Salisbury (N.C.) Country Club and follow up less than a week later at Tusculum College's Invitational in Greeneville, Tenn.

The Trojans' appearance at the Richard Rendleman Memorial marks the fourth consecutive year that AU has competed in Salisbury, while placing 16th a year ago. Wachter paced AU's two-day effort after moving from a tie for 61st following the first round to a share of 27th.

Anderson finished in the middle of the pack (ninth) at last year's Tusculum Invitational, with then-senior Sean Shelton carding a two-day 146 to pace the Trojans. Wachter, Messana and Warren were each two shots further back in a tie for 48th after the trio posted two-day total 155s.

The Trojans travel to North Greenville's Cliffs Intercollegiate in Travelers Rest, for the first time, March 23-24, and are slated to compete at the Tennessee River Rumble in Louden, Tenn. a week later.

"The [Tennessee National] is a tough course and was challenging for us last year, but we are looking forward to returning there this year."

AU captured ninth at last season's Rumble in the Trojans' final regular-season event, with then-senior Sean Shelton pacing the Trojans with a two-day nine-over-par 153.

"I am really excited about the [Cliffs Intercollegiate] because that is a new tournament for us," said Neal. "The other three tournaments are ones we tend to play in every year and typically have strong fields with a lot of top teams, a lot of region teams and good competition."

The South Atlantic Conference Tournament is slated for April 19-21 at Firethorn Country Club in Marvin, N.C. after spending the last two years in Sevierville, Tenn. The Trojans finished 11th at last year's three-day event, with Shelton earning a share of 12th place to lead AU.

"Firethorn is a very nice course and will be a very stern test of golf," concluded Neal. "It's a fairly difficult course. A lot of coaches look for that when choosing a course because it tends to separate the better teams."