Cream and Crimson feature strong lineup going into Charlotte tourney

After winning the Hoosier Invitational last weekend by 33 strokes and earning the No. 5 ranking in the country, the IU men's golf team has plenty of reasons to be confident. When the Hoosiers tee off today in Charlotte, N.C., for the 49er Collegiate Classic, they will do so as a nationally ranked team according to Golfstat and Golfweek.\nThe Hoosiers believe they have a strong lineup going into this week's tournament, and it starts with junior Jeff Overton. He has led the way for the Hoosiers this season by finishing first in the first two tournaments of the season. Overton's hot streak has been a great asset to the Hoosiers, and the rest of the golf community has taken notice. After winning the Northern Intercollegiate, Overton was named Golfer of the Week by GolfWorld magazine. Following his first place finish at the Hoosier Invitational, Overton was given the No. 4 ranking in the nation by Golfweek. Coach Mike Mayer is not surprised at the recognition that Overton has received.\n"(Overton) deserves that honor," Mayer said. "He is, I would argue, the hottest college golfer out there right now. We're proud of what he has accomplished this early in the fall season. He played (the Hoosier Invitational) with a lot more confidence, and I think he is going to go down to Charlotte with that same kind of confidence and that same type of attitude. He knows he's the best player in the field."\nBut Overton is not the only Hoosier golfer that gives the team confidence for this week's event. Junior Heath Peters already has finished tied for seventh in the two tournaments. Senior Mike Birkenfeld took second place at last weekend's Hoosier Invitational. Senior Ryan Cassidy finished tied for fifth at the Hoosier Invitational. Cassidy believes that the lineup's strength is its consistency. \n"We're pretty confident going down there," Cassidy said. "Heath has finished seventh the past two tournaments. Jeff has won. Birkenfeld finished in the top twenty and then finished second. So (the Hoosiers' lineup) is consistent."\nThe 49er Collegiate Classic will give the Hoosiers an opportunity to face teams they would not normally face. Eleven other teams will compete in the tournament. Xavier and Marquette are the only teams in the field that the Hoosiers have faced so far this year, but Overton says the field does not intimidate the Hoosiers. \n"It will be interesting. There will be a lot of teams that we have not really had much experience playing against," Overton said. "So I think we just have to go out there, be patient, and keep doing the same things we're doing. But I don't think there are too many teams that can compete with us right now, the way we are playing."\nThe Hoosiers' lineup will feature Overton, Peters, Birkenfeld, Cassidy and freshman David Butwell. The tournament begins Monday at the Skybrook Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C., with an 8 a.m. shotgun and 36 holes of play. The tournament will conclude with 18 holes Tuesday beginning at 8 a.m. \n-- Contact staff writer Charlie Gillingham at cgilling@indiana.edu.