The University of Louisiana golf team couldn't pick a better time to play in the Sun Belt Conference Championships.

The Ragin' Cajuns are coming off their first team tournament win in five seasons, and head coach Bob Bass said that win gives his team a major boost entering the 54-hole league event that begins Monday in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

"We've been working all year to get our guys to contribute at the same time," Bass said Saturday, "and we did that last week. Now I think they've learned a lot about what it takes to win and the mental toughness to commit to that, and to go out there and fight."

The Cajuns captured the Hal Sutton Intercollegiate 12 days ago in Bossier City, rallying from a 10-stroke deficit in the third and final round. UL made up six strokes on Sun Belt rival New Orleans, which was in second place in that meet entering the final day's play.

The UL squad won't be by itself, though, in coming off wins. Two other Sun Belt teams won their final regular-season events, including UNO's victory in Arkansas State's Indian Classic last weekend.

UL had three players finish in the top 10 individually in the Sutton meet, with sophomore Justin Lowe carding a one-over 217 score to finish sixth and sophomore Michael Smith and freshman Mark Brockhurst one stroke back and tied for seventh at 218.

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Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com