MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A year of building has given way to a year of expectations for the LeMoyne-Owen College men's golf program.

    The Magicians are preparing to begin their second season under head coach Dominique Worthen, and after experiencing their share of highs and lows during his first year at the helm, LOC enters the 2026 fall season with a deeper roster, an impressive recruiting class and plenty of reasons for optimism.

    Last season did not end where the Magicians wanted from a team standpoint, as LeMoyne-Owen finished at the bottom of the team standings at the SIAC Championships. However, one Magician made sure the trip ended with a piece of history.

    Then-freshman Albert Svane Laursen captured the SIAC individual championship, becoming the first freshman in conference history to accomplish the feat. His victory also brought the individual crown back to LeMoyne-Owen for the first time since Worthen himself won the championship as a player in 2015.

    Now entering his sophomore campaign, Laursen gives Worthen a proven centerpiece to build around. This time, however, he will have plenty of new talent surrounding him.

    Worthen attacked the recruiting trail with purpose during the offseason, bringing a talented group of young golfers to Memphis. William Ferguson, Ryan Darland, Maximus Knight and Dalton Wilkes headline a strong collection of freshmen from the South. The recruiting reach extended well beyond the region, with Ryan Broderick joining the program from Ontario, Canada, and Joao "Lucky" Skolnik making his way to Memphis from Camaçari, Brazil.

    While the freshman class brings plenty of potential, Worthen also added something his young team needed: experience.

    Junior Felipe Guido joins the Magicians after transferring within the SIAC from Central State University. The Buenos Aires, Argentina, native brings collegiate experience and a veteran presence that could prove valuable as Worthen works to turn a talented roster into a consistent one. Rising senior Zion Hall also returns, giving LOC another experienced golfer capable of helping steady a group filled with newcomers.

    With the roster reloaded, the Magicians will have plenty of opportunities to test themselves during a five-tournament fall slate.

    LeMoyne-Owen opens its season Sept. 6 - Sept. 8 at the TheeiLove Invitational at The Refuge in Jackson, Mississippi. Just days later, the Magicians return home for what could become one of the signature events of their fall season.

    From Sept. 13 - Sept. 15, LOC will host the Magicians on the Green Invitational at The Links at Pine Hill in Memphis. The tournament gives the Magicians a rare opportunity to compete in front of their own community while welcoming other programs to the Bluff City. For a program working to establish its identity under Worthen, hosting a collegiate tournament in its own backyard provides another chance to showcase the direction of LeMoyne-Owen golf.

    The road gets no easier from there.

    LOC travels to Suwanee, Georgia, for the 41st Annual Toman Dortch Jr. HBCU Golf Classic, scheduled for Sept. 19 through Sept. 22 at Bear's Best Atlanta. The Magicians then head to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, for the Battle for the Belt on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30 at Hot Springs Country Club.

    The fall concludes Oct. 4 - Oct. 6 at the Bill Gardner Fall Preview at The Country Club in Morristown, Tennessee.

    It is a schedule that should quickly reveal how far Worthen's program has come.

    Last season provided the Magicians with lessons, growing pains and one historic championship performance. This fall, Worthen has assembled a roster that blends an individual conference champion, experienced veterans and a freshman class with talent from across the South and around the world.

    The foundation has been laid. The roster has been retooled.

    Now, as year two of the Worthen era begins, the Magicians are ready to see just how much magic they can create on the course.