Southeast Missouri State University golf coach Carroll Williams is hoping his team can use a solid fall season as a major stepping stone into the spring, when the majority of the matches are played.

Toward that end, Williams is anxiously awaiting the opening tournament of the fall -- which also happens to be Southeast's annual home meet.

The Drury Inn Intercollegiate, featuring 14 teams, will take place Monday and Tuesday at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson. All the squads will have a practice round Sunday.

"We're looking forward to the tournament," said Williams. "It's the opening tournament of the year, so everybody will be at a loss as to how good they are.

"The fall schedule gives us a chance to see who can play for us and let's us see some other schools. Six conference schools, including us, will be there, so it's going to be a pretty good indicator of where we stand in the conference."

During last spring's highly competitive Ohio Valley Conference meet, the Indians finished fifth but were just two strokes out of second.

With five lettermen back, Williams hopes that added experience will pay off.

"Last year we were really young," Williams said. "Hopefully the extra experience will help us."

The Indians figure to be led by returning seniors Shawn Edgar from North County and Matt Clabaugh from Jackson. Edgar, a three-year lettermen, had the team's lowest stroke average last season at 76.1

Juniors Derek Rahlmann (Poplar Bluff), Jason Owen and Jake Saladin also return after playing regularly for the Indians last year.

Others back from last season, when they saw limited action, are Scott Roe (Notre Dame), Mike Brown and John Sutton (Piedmont).

Williams is also looking for good things from freshman John Litzelfelner (Jackson), Ryan Jaques (Dexter) and Brad Kostenchuk.

"We've got several juniors and freshmen, so we're in good shape for the future," Williams said.

Competing along with Southeast in the season-opening Drury Intercollegiate will be fellow OVC teams Murray State, Morehead State, Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois and Tennessee State.

Others in the field are Southern Illinois, Evansville, Belmont, Missouri-Kansas City, Creighton, Southwest Missouri, New Orleans and DePaul.