"We're going to ask them to put some more effort out this fall because the talent level is there, and they (the golfers) talk about wanting to do this," Grogan said.

Some of the tougher tournaments include Indiana University's Hoosier Invitational, which will feature some Big 10 teams, the University of Louisville's Cardinal Intercollegiate, which will feature some Conference USA teams, and the Xavier Invitational. Besides having the challenge of being entered in those tournaments, the team will test its endurance by playing the Indiana and Louisville tournaments back-to-back.

"They were good tournaments to get into, and they are about an hour apart," Grogan said about the Indiana and Louisville tournaments. "And I think it's good to see what these guys have got."

The reasoning behind this strategy of entering stronger tournament fields is to improve the team's ranking in its district. Using a formula that includes factors such as strength of schedule and tournament finishes, the NCAA ranks teams, with the top eight teams receiving entry into the NCAA's postseason. Thus, entering tournaments with stronger competition will give the Golden Eagles a better chance at a higher ranking.

'"It's about playing the top schools in our district and conference as much as we can," junior Nathan Colson said. "We have a chance by playing in these tournaments to finish in the top 15 or top 10 in our district."

"We can't get into Regionals playing in the tournaments we did last year," sophomore Kyle Murphy said. "We would have had to win all of them."

To prepare for these tournaments, the team has embarked on a more strenuous practice schedule. Continuing from their active summers, where many team members participated in some of Wisconsin's biggest tournaments, the team has been playing some of the best courses in the Milwaukee area the past few weeks with several golfers carding scores under par.

"Our qualifying rounds and practices have been set up pretty difficult and are very challenging for the guys," Grogan said.

On Monday, the team will have the chance to see the benefits of the practice as it will participate in the first tournament of the season, the Piper Intercollegiate, in Bowling Green, Ohio. Colson, Murphy, sophomores Steve Sass and Joe Weber, and freshman Mike Bielawski will comprise the starting line-up for the Golden Eagles.

Despite the tournament being the first of the season, Grogan is enthusiastic about the team's chances.

"The nice thing about this group is that I don't know who is going to be the low guy at this tournament," he said. "Any one of these guys can win the tournament if they play well."