ARLINGTON, Texas (April 18, 2021) – For all of the considerable success Oklahoma Christian's men's golf program has enjoyed through the years, winning conference team titles has proved challenging for the Eagles. OC has won three national titles but only two league crowns – one in 2009 in the Sooner Athletic Conference, the other 10 years later in the Heartland Conference.

With what looks to be a stacked squad, the Eagles will try to add to that list starting Monday, when they begin play in the Lone Star Conference Championship for the first time at Tierra Verde Golf Club.

OC was one of the favorites to win the LSC title in 2020 before the league tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Eagles have all five starters back from that squad – Trevor Norby, Andres Brictson, Alex Motes, Alejandro Armijo and Mateo Pulcini. Two of them are returning All-Americans (Norby, Brictson) and three of them (Norby, Brictson, Pulcini) made the All-LSC first-team list.

"I believe this is a special group," OC coach David Lynn said. "I can't wait to see how they perform this postseason."

There are plenty of reasons to like the Eagles' chances. Four OC players – Norby, Brictson, Motes and Armijo – have won at least one individual collegiate tournament title, with all but Armijo winning at least once this season. As a team in 2020-21, the Eagles have won four tournaments, finished second in two others and have a 71-5-2 record against NCAA Division II competition. Only one Division II team (Central Missouri) has beaten the Eagles since the start of October.

They're also No. 1 in the NCAA's South Central Region ranking, which means that regardless of the result this week, they'll safely be in the field for the upcoming South Central-West Super Regional tournament. But they'd like to enter that tournament through the front door, with the automatic qualifier spot that will go to the LSC tournament winner.

All that said, there are plenty of other teams capable of winning this week. Midwestern State (Texas) had a pair of All-LSC first-team picks in Jake Doggett and Garrett Leak. Dallas Baptist (Texas) will be playing close to home and has spent part of the season ranked in the top 25 in the Division II coaches' poll, as has St. Mary's (Texas).

Texas A&M-Commerce had two players receive All-LSC second-team honors and two others receive honorable mention and Texas A&M International could be a dark-horse contender, with first-team All-LSC pick Parker Holekamp.

The 54-hole tournament will be played over three days, starting at 8 a.m. each day on the par-72, 6,975-yard course. Spectators will be allowed and expected to social distance in accordance with City of Arlington guidelines and NCAA rules. Spectator golf carts will available for rental, based on availability.

On Monday, OC will be grouped with Texas A&M International and West Texas A&M and will start from No. 1 tee at noon.