Both the men’s and the women’s golf teams participated in two tournaments over the last two weeks. The men’s season and hopes of going to the NCAA’s fell short, and the women prepped for their own GLVC championship.
The men’s golf team started their week at the Great Lakes No. 3 regional tournament at the Purgatory Golf Club in Noblesville, Ind. The Flyers finished 14th overall with a final total of 614.
Head coach Skip Steffey was pleased with the performance of the men’s squad.
“The boys played well, but not well enough to make up the deficit they were behind with other teams there, so we were unable to make a run at the NCAA’s.”
Senior Paul Dagys improved on his first round score by two strokes to lead the team with a finishing score of 148, which was good enough for a tie for 17th overall at the tourney.
Junior Casey Pyne could not repeat his round one performance (72) and slid back to a tie for 30th with his total score of 151. Freshman Brandon White finished with a score of 156, which tied him for 60th overall and the third best finishing Flyer at the tourney. Wayne State University took home the title.
For their next tournament, the boys went to participate in the GLVC Championship in Columbus, Ind. This was the Flyers last chance to make a run at the NCAA’s, but their efforts just came up a little bit short. The Flyers shot a three round score of 914 to finish 7th in the tourney, only two shots behind Bellarmine in 6th place. The Flyers were led by two players who tied for 22nd overall. White and Dagys tied with a score of 228. White had Lewis’ low score of day two with a 74.
Coach Steffey was particularly pleased with one of his freshman performers.
“We played pretty well around our average score on the year and we had an opportunity to place 4th but didn’t take advantage,” Steffey said. “Brandon [White] played fantastic, shooting for his low score of the year with that impressive 74.”
Pyne and Junior Logan Watts tied for 27th overall with their total scores of 230. Although their chances of reaching the Super Regionals are gone, the team will still participate in their final event on April 26th in the American Family Classic. There is a chance however, that both Dagys and Pyne will be selected by the committee for the Super Regionals as individuals after their stellar play all year.
The women’s golf team also participated in two tournaments these past two weeks, starting with the Loyola Invitational in Evanston, Ill. Lewis was the only non-Division 1 team in the eight team tourney. They ended up finishing 6th with a team score of 690. They were led by freshman Nicole Tucker, who tied for 15th overall with her score of 165.
She was followed on the team by another freshman, Carly Shapiro. Shapiro fought back on day two to overshadow her first day 91 with an 82 to finish out the tourney. Her scores brought her up to a tie for 30th and a final score of 173. Third on the team was yet another freshman, Vanessa Phillips. She tied for 36th overall with her 175 effort. Western Illinois went on to win the tournament.
The lady Flyers’ next destination was back in Lockport to play in the Aviator Classic at the Prairie Bluff Golf Club. Williams shined once again as she led the team with a personal best of 74 on day two of the tournament which propelled her to the best individual score on the team (156). That put her in a tie for 7th place.
Coach Steffey loved the progress his team made at the Aviator Classic.
“The girls played much better, including their lowest score of the year. Hopefully these low scores will transfer over to when we compete in the GLVC championship.”
The Flyers finished 6th overall in the tourney with a final team score of 663. Freshman Liz Zimmer finished 28th overall, with a 168. She was followed by Tucker, who improved by eight strokes on day two to finish with a final combined score of 169. That finish tied for 29th overall. Northern Kentucky ended up winning the tournament.
The women will be competing in the GLVC championship on April 24-25 where coach Steffey is hoping they can finish in the top half of the field.
Kevin Meyer, Staff Reporter
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