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A spirit that is not afraid

Golf to compete for league's top honor

Both the Auburn Tigers men's and women's golf teams will be in action this weekend as they compete for a conference championship.

The women's team will host the 2011 SEC Championship at the Jack Key Golf Teaching Center while the men travel to St. Simons Island, Ga.

Men's head coach Nick Clinard will try to lead the Tigers to a conference championship after coming off a first-place finish at the Bluegrass Invitational last Sunday.

"If you're not motivated by now, you're not going to get motivated," Clinard said.

The No. 6 men's team is one of four top-10 teams participating in the tournament as No. 3 Alabama, No. 5 Florida and No. 10 LSU join them on the list.

They will also have to face the defending SEC Champions, No. 14 University of Georgia and reigning individual champion Russell Henley.

The Alabama and Florida rosters boast five of the nation's top 20 players.

Clinard and the Tigers remain confident and look to finish the season strong as they have finished first in three of their last four tournaments.

"We've got a lot of talent, and everyone is prepared," Clinard said.

Led by No. 14 Blayne Barber and No. 45 Michael Herbert, the Tigers are eager to embrace the challenge and improve on last year's seventh-place finish.

Women's head coach Kim Evans and the women's golf team will enjoy home field advantage at this year's tournament as Evans aims to lead the Tigers to her seventh SEC title.

Junior Haley Wilson said she is ready to take on the challenge with the help of her hometown support.

"The greens are the tough part of this golf course," Wilson said. "If you can play these greens well and putt well, you should be able to do pretty well out here.

"We have to try and not get too comfortable--just go out there and take it hole by hole and try and not get ahead of ourselves."

The women's team, ranked No. 20 nationally, will arguably have a tougher road to the title than their counterparts.

The SEC women's field includes eight of the top 25 nationally-ranked teams, including defending conference champion No. 3 Alabama.

Auburn senior Cydney Clanton, ranked 13th nationally, is welcomed back after a brief absence competing in the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco Championship and aims to end the Tide's momentum.

Both the men's and the women's teams are optimistic and focused heading into the SEC tournament.

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"We try and do the same thing every time we play, and that's win championships," Clinard said.

Both teams tee off Friday.


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