The Men’s Golf Team is off to a very strong start this season, finishing in third place in the Augsburg Invitational, the St. John’s Invitational and, most recently, the Macalester Invite.
Select members of the team made the trek to Florida for the Gordin Classic, with the others participated in the Macalester invite. The team was tied for seventh place after the first day of the Gordin Classic held in Howley-in-the-Hills, Fla.
“We did not capitalize on any close birdie chances,” Gustavus Head Coach Scott Moe said after the first round of the Gordin Classic. “We played steady enough to keep us in it, but we need to get some putts to fall tomorrow.”
Junior Coby Rowley was the top performer at the Macalester Invitational, tying with Tyler Koivisto of Concordia-Moorhead College for the lead at four strokes over par on the two-day tournament, while Gustavus took third place of ten teams.
“It feels really good. This definitely has been one of my personal goals for a while,” Rowley said of his first place finish at Macalester.
The team took third of 21 at both the Augsburg Invite and the Saint John’s Invitational earlier this year and was a narrow 6 strokes behind the winner of the latter tournament.
“I think we played fairly well in both events; St. John’s is a very good team, ranked second in the country, but I definitely know we can play better,” Coach Moe said.
“In [the first two] tournaments, the two teams we lost to were St. John’s and Manitoba; very talented teams,” Junior Co-Captain Trevor Gervais said.
“I believe we are just as good as these teams or better. When we play well top to bottom I believe we are the best team out there.”
Gervais shot a team-best at eight strokes over par in the St. John’s Invite, earning him a spot in a four-way tie for fourth place. Sophomore Tyler McMorrow took fourth place at the Augsburg Invite finishing one stroke over par.
Gustavus has played well, despite having a relatively young team; eight of the team’s 14-man roster spots belong to first-years and sophomores.
“It has been very fun with this young team that we have,” Gervais said. “Some under-classmen to really step up are Sophomores Simon Erlandsson, Andrew Oakes, Tyler McMorrow and John Husu. All those guys are having good seasons thus far and are looking to build on that.”
“We have a good group of captains in Alex Pederson, Alex Kolquist and Trevor Gervais to lead the way for the younger guys,” Coach Moe said.
While Gustavus has played with consistence, the weather over the past month has been unpredictable, fluctuating from a high of 92°F on Sept. 1 to a low of 34°F just two weeks later. The only thing the team hasn’t seen (yet) is snow. This type of unpredictable weather can unhinge a golfer’s game if he isn’t prepared.
“The best way to prepare is to have the equipment to deal with the weather,” Gervais said. “Second, you have to have the right mindset. Weather can be as damaging mentally as physically at times.”
The team will need to be mentally prepared for absolutely anything this weekend as they travel to the MIAC Championship at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids, Minn. Rain or shine, the team looks forward to what promises to be a challenging tournament.
“I feel like we have a real good shot at competing for the win this year,” Rowley said. “I know the guys are really looking forward to the tournament after a disappointing finish last season and hopefully we can bring our A game.”
“Most people would likely consider us the number two seed going into the tournament,” Gervais said, “but we have played very close to the Johnnies so far this year and know that we have the talent to win.”
“It will be tough this year; there are some very good teams. I look at St John’s, St. Thomas and Concordia to be a challenge,” Coach Moe said of the competition at the MIAC championship. “If we play well and play consistent, I think it will come down to the back nine on the final day which would make it very exciting.”