With a four-week layoff since its last tournament, the men's golf team has had ample time to practice. Coach Mary Kennedy has used the break to assess her personnel as the Lions head into the second half of the season.

"It's better to have a stable lineup. She's been jockeying around the lineup to find out the one that's going to clic. It will bring the best five eventually," Matt Shiley said.

Using a three-round open qualifier in practice this week, Kennedy has made some changes in her lineup for this weekend's Jerry Pate Intercollegiate Tournament. The tournament begins tomorrow and runs through Sunday, but a practice round is scheduled for 9:30 this morning.

Junior Marc Betrando's 227 earned him a plane ticket to Pensacola, Fla., and a spot on the five-man team. This will be his first collegiate competition this spring.

With a tough academic schedule last year, Betrando's playing time was limited. He competed last fall in the Rutherford Invitational, shooting an 81 average.

"In the spring I practiced pretty hard and worked to get my game in shape. I'm excited to finally get a chance to prove myself now that the door has been opened," Betrando said.

Betrando has considerable summer experience at the amateur level. If he treats the tournament like a regular season competition, he'll do well, Kennedy said.

"I'm comfortable and confident with my team being that it's such a deep roster," Kennedy said.

The 54-hole competition held at Tiger's Point Golf and Country Club includes 15 teams, including perennial southern powers Alabama, Florida State, Miami and Stetson.

"It's an excellent field. It will be a classic test in preparation for our ultimate goal, the regionals," Kennedy said.

Regulars Shiley (222), William Smith (224) and Kyle Ross (227) continued their consistent play in the qualifier.

"The qualifier put pressure on some people, namely those of us who have been playing," Smith said. "We were told the five best scores were going. That was the bottom line."

"When they're forced to play harder and there's pressure at home, they're going to play better on the road," Kennedy said.

Dave Corazo and Dan Vona followed in the qualifier, but both chose to stay home to concentrate on academics. It would have been Corazo's first competition of the season.

"We have to make academic choices. The decision to stay back is a good one, I commend them for that," Kennedy said.

The Lions will once again have to deal with Bermuda grass at the Florida venue. Smith, Ross and Shiley dealt with such conditions at the Sam Houston State Invitational earlier this season.

The par-72 course is a shotmaker's course with several water hazards and sloping greens slowed by the thick grass.

"The practice round is all the adjustment we'll need. If we get a lot accomplished there, it will make our tournament," Shiley said.

Weather conditions are expected to be ideal, although a storm front is moving through the Florida panhandle. The Lions don't seem to mind a bit of rain.

Last year, Alabama invited the Penn State to the Southeastern Intercollegiate in Montgomery. However, this time, the Crimson Tide chose to bring the Lions to the Sunshine State for the three-round event.

"The courses down there are a bit more manicured. I'll be glad to get out of the snow," Betrando said.

Smith has not competed in a tournament since spring break, but hopes that the trip will help him regain his focus and rhythm on the greens.

"Maybe with a few less layers of clothes and warmer weather, I'll feel a little loser," Smith said.