When men's golfer Aaron Flores heads out to Illinois on May 15, he will be only the second student-athlete in the history of Our Lady of the Lake University to compete in a national tournament. (Cross-Country's Miriam Vazquez went to nationals in the winter of 2009.)

Flores, a freshman communications major, took top medalist honors at the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Championship Tournament in April. Winning the tournament, also billed as the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Qualifier, earned Flores an automatic bid to the 59th NAIA National Championship in Silvis, Ill. May 18-21.

Flores is ranked 7^th and at just 19 years old, he will be among the youngest of competitors in the tournament. But he has at least 14 years of experience in the sport. He began playing when he was five years old, competitively since the age of six.

When asked who inspires him on the course, he mentioned his older brother Andrew Flores Jr., who played collegiately at New Mexico Junior College. Flores said he chose to play golf like his older brother because he was small for football and baseball, but he knew he could be a force on the golf course. Plus, his father, Andrew Flores, encouraged him, as well. The senior Flores is head golf coach at Holy Cross High School, located less than a mile from the OLLU campus, and has taken the team to district and state numerous time throughout his tenure at the school.

It will have been more than four weeks since Flores has competed, but he has been able to play daily to prepare for the national contest. When out on the course, Flores prepares mentally by listening to a variety of music, especially Tejano. His aunt is well-known Tejano artist Shelly Lares, so her music figures prominently on his IPod as he plays. Nevertheless, he won't be doing anything out of the ordinary these next few days in anticipation of the tournament in the Midwest. "Although I know winning isn't everything, I know I have the capability of winning the NAIA tournament," Flores said. "And that will be the one thing on my mind as I start playing."

"Golf is more of an individual sport, and as a team, each player strives to play well to ensure each of his scores add up to a team win," said Head Golf Coach Eric Moore, who was named Red River Conference Coach of the Year last month.  "Aaron has consistently played excellent golf throughout the semester, and I am expecting him to do very well at nationals."

Flores credited his father and mother Laura for his success both on the golf course and in the classroom. "With my parents, it was always schoolwork first, then golf. They really placed a lot of emphasis on ensuring I get a good education and they have both encouraged me throughout my life." Flores is attending OLLU on a scholarship based both on academics and athletics.

Flores has had great success since beginning at OLLU in 2009. In the RRAC tournament, he shot even par (70) at five-under for the tournament. He finished two shots ahead of Northwood University's Lucas Bogdan, the no. 1 ranked golfer in the RRAC. In addition, Flores won the Lucio Collegiate Invitational Tournament sponsored by the University of Texas at Brownsville in February.

The 59th NAIA National Championship will take place May 18-21 at TPC @ Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.

Follow tournament results here: http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-golf/2010Championship.html.