Golfers use fall slate to gain experience

By NICK WILDE
Sports Reporter

The fall golf season has teed off, and the men’s and women’s teams have started to fine-tune their strokes.

In college golf, there are no conference tournaments during the fall season, so players can work on their swings and improve other aspects of their golf game, said junior Michael Hoch.

“I enjoy playing golf and being able to hang out with some friends,” Hoch said.

In addition to giving the Jays a chance to hone their game, the fall season also provides the squad a chance to build cameraderie with newcomers.

“The fall season is a great opportunity for the freshmen to get used to college golf,” Sutko said.

They also rely on their teammates to critique each other. This helps them keep their focus on golf, Sutko said.

The men return six members from last year and welcome two freshmen to the team.

All eight men will compete for the five roster spots allowed in each tournament. The top four count toward the team scoring.

Sutko said right now the top five are Hoch, freshman Michael McDonnell, sophomore Tom Gross, junior Matt Kouri and Sutko. He said the top five can change depending on who is playing the best golf.

The men have four tournaments in the fall, and their first is Monday in Indianapolis. The women have four tournaments left after completing their first, last Tuesday.

The women’s golf team opened its fall campaign with a 13th place finish at the Chip-’N Club Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Senior Audrey Butler led the Jays with a 54-hole total of 253; she tied for 51st place. Juniors Leigh Sutton and Rachel Byleen tied for 54th place with a score of 255.

The Jays’ top five also included senior Maureen Gross, who finished in a tie for 60th place with a score of 259, and freshman Betsy Conry, who tied for 66th place with a 54-hole total of 261.

“We are not satisfied with the way we played in Lincoln. The conditions weren’t optimal for golf, but we should have played better than we did,” Butler said of the windy conditions.

The Jays’ problems came mostly on the greens with too many two-putts, Gross said.

The women are looking forward to successful fall and spring seasons. The Jays return five golfers from last year and add two freshmen and a transfer from the University of Arizona.

“We are a very talented group of girls, and we know we can be competitive in every tournament this year,” Gross said.

There is some depth on the women’s team, and all eight on the roster have the ability to be in the top five, Butler said.

“The fall season will allow the freshmen to adapt to the style of college golf, 36 holes on the first day and then another 18 on the second day of a tournament,” Butler said

The fall season is also when the athletes will define their roles within the team, Gross said.

“We expect the returning players to be consistent and provide leadership for the team,” Butler said.