MAGNOLIA, Ark. - The Southern Arkansas University Men's Golf team will compete in the Natural State Classic in Heber Springs, Arkansas this week on Monday, March 28 and Tuesday, March 29. The Muleriders will play 54 holes over the course of two days. The Muleriders, led by second-year head coach Neriah Brown, will bring a squad of six golfers to compete in northern Arkansas.
 
THE COURSE
The Muleriders will continue their Spring 2022 season at the Natural State Classic hosted by Harding University at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The Red Apple Inn and Country Club is an 18-hole, par 71, 6,451-yard course that features rolling hills, trees, and many hilltop vistas. The course was voted to have the "Most Scenic Hole in Arkansas" by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The course has a rating of 72.3 and a slope rating of 138.
 
THE OPPOSITION
Southern Arkansas will face some tough opposition at the Natural State Classic including the competition's host Harding University ranked 63^rd in Division II NCAA. Among the competitors are #22 Henderson State University, and the University of Missouri -St. Louis which is ranked 33^rd in Division II. The remaining competitors include Christian Brothers University, Missouri Western University, Southeastern Oklahoma State, Missouri Southern State University, Southern Nazarene University, University of Arkansas at Monticello, Northwestern Oklahoma State University.
 
PREVIEWING THE MULERIDERS
The squad competing in the Natural State Classic will include Roman Timmerman, Caleb Miller, Logan McDonald, Tyler Garrett, Brendan Little, and Connor Harrington. The following results for the previously mentioned individuals come are from the squad's last match at the Oak Tree Invitational. Senior Roman Timmerman shot a 70 in round 1, a 71 in round 2, and a 74 in round 3 for a total score of 215. Sophomore Caleb Miller fired a 77 in round 1, a 72 in round 2, and a 79 in round 3 for a total score of 228. Tyler Garrett scored a 75 in round 1, an 80 in round 2, and a 77 in round 3 for a total score 232. Sophomore and Magnolia native Connor Harrington last played in the Broncho Invitational this Spring 2022 season. Harrington shot an 86 in round 1, an 89 in round 2 for a total score of 175. Junior Brendan Little will be in competition for the first time since the Battle of the Belt in the spring of 2021. In that tournament, Litte posted scores of 75 in round 1, a 79 in round 2, and an 84 in round 3 for a total score of 238.
 
Some highlights from the Oak Tree Invitational include Timmerman placing tied for fourth in the tournament overall and sitting at the top of the leaderboard with a +1 for all par-4 scoring opportunities. Timmerman also had a -1 for all par-5 scoring opportunities and he also led the team in total birdies with a total of 9. Miller led the team in pars with a total of 33. Both Miller and Garrett had +10 in all par-4 scoring opportunities which is in the top half of the leaderboard.  
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Mulerider fans can keep up with the action with live scoring here.