Cougar Golf--Week in Review (Zach Ranallo, University Register)
9/17/2009
It was a learning experience and a strong first step for the UMM golfers over the week. The men and women took part in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference season opener on September 10. The men and women were very competitive over the course of the tournament and gave strong efforts at North Links Golf Course in Mankato, MN. The tournament marked the culmination of the conference schedule for 2009.
The men’s golf team finished fifth at the UMAC opener, shooting a team score of 343, edging out Presentation in the six team tournament. David Katz (So., St. Paul, MN) finished with an impressive score of 76. The winners of the tournament were the North Central Rams, who had a record setting day with a team score of 304. The win was the first ever victory for the Rams at a conference tournament. The Rams had one player, Dean Goodwin (Jr., Rosemount, MN.) who shot an even 72 to catapult them to victory.
The women’s golf team fought hard, along with other UMAC teams, but the Northwestern College Eagles took the cake at the UMAC season opener. The Eagles ran away with the tournament with a score of 407. Kristina Siemens (So., Watertown, SD) shot a steady 90 to lead the Eagles to their first victory of the year.
On Friday, the Cougar golfers took part in the Bethany Lutheran Invitational in North Mankato, Minnesota. Both teams were competitive and gave a strong showing on the links.
The men shot a 371 to finish fifth in the six team tournament. The Cougars best individual score was by David Katz, who posted a 78 for his team respectively. Crown College edged the Cougars by one stroke to finish fourth at the tourney, while the Bethany Lutheran Vikings proved too much for the field, finishing in first place. The Vikings shot a staggering 304 as a team, led by Mitch Koepp who finished with an outstanding score of 72.
It was a steadfast day on the course for the women. Their strong-willed attitude proved to be just what they needed as they claimed second at the tournament. With a team score of 426, the Cougars edged out Presentation College to be runners-up to first place Northwestern College, who finished with a score of 396. Leading the Cougars was first year golfer Caitlin Hanson (Rosemount, MN). She shot an 89 to help lead the Cougars to an all around great team effort.
On Saturday, the women’s team traveled to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota for the Concordia Invitational. The tournament took place at the Wildflower Golf Course. The team finished the two-day tournament with a score of 864, and their score placed them in eighth place among nine teams in the tournament. The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux nabbed first with a team score of 646. Caitlin Hanson was the Cougars’ leader over the weekend with a two day score of 189 (+45) , which placed her 32 overall among individual golfers. Leading all golfers was North Dakota’s Kristi Lucken, who shot a 151 (+7) for the tourney.
The UMM men’s strikers traveled to the Bemidji State Invitational in Bemidji, Minnesota on Sunday. The two day tournament took place at the Bemidji Town and Country Golf Course, home to the Bemidji State Beavers. The underdog Cougars hoped for team improvement coming into the tournament. The team stroked a score of 344 on day one, and 347 on day two, to finish with a 691 (+115) final team score. Derek Dionne (Fr., Wahpeton, N.D.) led the Cougars by finishing tied for 62nd individually by hitting 81 on consecutive days to finish with a score of 162 (+18). The ultra competitive 15 team tournament was fielded with perennial powers such as: Saint Johns, Bemidji State, and St. Cloud State. The Cougars finished 15th place, but managed to gain priceless experience on the links.
The golf teams are improving weekly and show promise that may grow exponentially as the inexperience on each team is overshadowed by effort. The future looks bright as both teams are led by great coaches and look to be contenders in the future for conference tournament victories. The teams must take one day a time, and the golfers should see their scores fall as their patience grows out on the course.
