Hard work paying off as golf team breaks records at Rocket Classic
Chippewa golf practices at Mount Pleasant Country Club on Sept. 17, 2015.
There’s one word to sum up the Central Michigan golf team’s performance at the 2016 Rocket Classic: Progress
CMU set school records Oct. 10-11 for the lowest rounds through 18, 36 and 54 holes, shooting 315, 311 and 311. That earned the team seventh place in the tournament, which is the best finish for the team since being reinstated in 2014.
“It was a good tournament” said junior Kristen Wolfe. “Breaking the 18, 36 and 54 hole records was great and a boost of confidence for the team. We were able to beat Ball State, (which was) another confidence booster.”
Freshman Danielle Sawyer took 11th place individually in the tournament thanks to her school record 72 during the second round.
“It was so great,” Sawyer said. “It was so unexpected. I hadn’t been hitting the ball well and the warm up on the driving range did not go well, so it was very surprising to all of us.”
MAC Fall Preview opportunity to build confidence for CMU golf
To finish up the fall season CMU Golf will participate in the 2016 MAC Fall Preview this Monday. The MAC Preview is a tournament that gives all teams in the MAC a chance to play the same course to determine who takes home the title of MAC Champion in April.
Her score beat junior Kristen Wolfe’s previous record of 73, which impressed head coach Cheryl Stacy.
“It was cool so see a freshman (Danielle Sawyer) shoot even par. That was fun,” Stacy said.
The program restarted after a 30-year hiatus, and the team has struggled during its first two seasons, averaging teams scores of 121 over par in 2014-15 and 112 over during 2015-16.
Despite the program’s early struggles, Wolfe said all the hard work is starting to pay off for CMU.
“It’s a great feeling,” said Wolfe, a member of the team since the program restarted. “It’s a cool position to be in to come in and make a culture. We want CMU to be known for golf later in the years and to say that (we) were part of the group that restarted it 5-10 years down the road.”
Sawyer reiterated Wolfe’s comments.
“It’s so innovative for everyone. We’re always trying to take small steps and to see us finally get results was a big boost in motivation to see the hard work pay off.”
Even with success starting to finally show the team knows that there’s still room to improve.
“You always see places to improve” Stacy said. “As a team we figured out that if we put bogeys in place of the double and triple bogeys we win that tournament.”
As the team continues to progress, friendly competition has broken out during practice, but Wolfe and Sawyer said they just hope the best for their teammates during competition.
“It’s a good thing that anyone shoots under par,” Wolfe said. “I’d be happy for them. Danielle’s a great golfer, and anyone of us can do it. I don’t feel like I need to beat but, whatever happens happens.”
Sawyer also chimed in on the topic.
“Maybe a little bit. I have so much respect for Kristen, she’s such a nice person and healthy competition can be a good thing.”
CMU Golf is back in action on Oct. 24 for the MAC Preview in Kent, Ohio.
Stacy said she is excited to see what the team can accomplish during the preview after finding success in the Rocket Tournament.
“It’s uplifting for the girls to have confidence going into that from this tournament” she said.
Full Results from the Rocket Classic:
|
Golfer |
Round 1 score |
Round 2 score |
Round 3 score |
Total |
|
Danielle Sawyer (FR) |
+6 (78) |
E (72) |
+7 (79) |
+13 (229) |
|
Kristen Wolfe (JR) |
+3 (75) |
+13 (85) |
+1 (73) |
+17 (233) |
|
Natalie Johnson (JR) |
+8 (80) |
+7 (79) |
+8 (80) |
+23 (239) |
|
Bria Colosky (SO) |
+10 (82) |
+5 (77) |
+8 (80) |
+23 (239) |
|
Katie Logan (FR) |
+11 (83) |
+11 (83) |
+7 (79) |
+29 (245) |
|
Amanda Walsh (JR) (Individual) |
+13 (85) |
+14 (86) |
+21 (93) |
+48 (264) |
