Men's golf struggles toward end of season
Published Nov. 3, 2006
Last weekend marked the fall's final tournament for the MU men's golf team, and like its previous meets, the team struggled as it finished with a total score of 925 to place ninth out of 12 teams. The team, which started off the season looking to lead the nation, has now had trouble finishing in even the top half of its tournaments as it did this weekend at The Landfall Tradition in Wilmington, N.C.
The elements didn't comply with the team, making a rainy and windy first two days of play after a calm practice round, accounting for some unexpected shots.
"It was pretty tough the first couple days. It was pretty windy, and I just gave a lot of shots away," senior Shawn Jasper said. "No matter how tough conditions are, I don't think 231 is ever that good of a score."
Sophomore Peter Malnati had trouble on the 18th hole on the second day when after driving the ball a strong gust of wind stopped it and put the shot in the water.
The course was not the most difficult the Tigers have played on this fall, but the weather accounted for high scores all around the tournament. The averages across the field for the first and second days were six strokes over par, which was 72. The tournament's top finisher, Mitch Cohlmia of Tulsa, Okla., finished only one under par.
MU's top finisher was Jasper, who missed a large portion of the season because of thumb and wrist injuries, narrowly making the top 25 cut with his score of 231. Senior John Kelly was able to overcome a 17 over par deficit from the first two days of play to finish the tournament's last day at par. He tied for 31st place with teammate Trent Twaddle.
"For John Kelly, he had an embarrassing second round," coach Mark Leroux said of the U.S. Amateur runner-up's 15-over-par round. "That was a pride thing for him. You shoot 87 and you're one of the better college players, you're going to bounce back. Just determination is going to get you a good score that last day, just guts."
Rounding out the Tigers' five-man team were Malnati and freshman Bud Reynolds, who both tied for 43rd place with scores of 237.
Several of the golfers are happy to see this half of the season over, and are looking forward to the spring.
"I'm glad we've got three months off to put this fall behind us and come out in the spring and hopefully be a little rejuvenated," Malnati said. "The talent is there, we've got it."
This fall season is reminiscent of the team's performance two years ago, when Leroux first started coaching the team, and Jasper was a sophomore.
"We did this two years ago," Jasper said. "We had a fall that was about this bad. Then we just all of a sudden clicked. And that's what we're waiting for; we're just waiting for something good to happen. As soon as that happens, I think we'll be fine. We just need to put one good round in to gain momentum."
Two years ago, the team finished third in the Big 12 and made a trip to the national championships.
