Weather Plays a Factor in First Golf Match

It was a rough start to the season on the Oneida Community Golf Club links today, for the Spartans Men's Golf Team.  The cold, blustery conditions and limited opportunity for the team to practice outside on their home course, did not lend itself to carding low scores.  "We had three newcomers to collegiate golf competition this afternoon and I think the nerves got the better of them early on.  After walking the course with each golfer I tried to emphasize the importance of scoring with the elements, trying to be aggressive on the "early season" greens and simply focus on playing the course versus their competition.  The short game for our #3 to #6 golfers added in strokes we should be able to avoid once we get more time on the links outside," said Coach Renaud. 

Renaud continued, "Individually, if not for one bad hole by Jacob DeChick (Weedsport, NY),  he would have been competing for medalist of the match.  Gavin Dennis (Weedsport, NY) did a great job on his last nine holes, shooting even par.  He hit every fairway on the par 4's and 5's and attacked the greens over the course of those last nine holes.  All in all, I think the team did a nice job of keeping the ball in play."

Coach Renaud noted the squad has two weeks of course time ahead of them before their next match, the Spartan Invitational.  Adding optimism to improving their scores is the fact it is on their home course of Highland Park Golf Club.  The six man matches take place on Friday, April 19th with a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start.