SXU Athletics
The men’s golf season has officially started, and the team is off to a fairly good start.
The men placed 7th out of 15 on both days of the Battle at Blackthorn tournament on Sept. 12 and 13, with a combined two-day score of 618 (312, 306).
On Sept. 15, the first day of the Deer Park Classic, the team finished in 7th place out of 10 teams total.
On the second day of this tournament, hosted by Cardinal Stritch University, the men finished 8th. The combined team score for both days was 568 (282, 286).
“I think the first two tournaments went just about how we expected,” said head coach Mike Mandakas. “With a young team, it’s going to take some time to get to the level we were at the past two years.”
After seeing the men’s performance these past two tournaments, Mandakas has a better idea of what they need to focus on at practice.
“We have started to get back to working on the short game within 30 yards and mechanics,” said Mandakas.
Individually, these golfers are just as strong as they are as a team. With a score of 149 (75, 74), sophomore Kyle Yaeger tied for 6th place overall, while sophomore Robert Lively was a part of a three-way tie for 11th place with a score of 150 (78, 72).
Sophomore Mark Kluk tied for 18th place with a score of 154 (77,77). Freshman Michael Perez scored a 157 (79,78) earning him a tie for 27th place. Junior Kyle Bahnick shot a 165 (83, 82), while Zachary Trent shot a 168 (80, 88). There were a total of 80 golfers at the Battle of Blackthorn, so the Cougars were among the best.
These golfers have high hopes for each other and the team as a whole. They believe they can be a real threat in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) despite their status as a young team.
“I’m looking forward to just getting better as a team,” said Yaeger. “In the end we would all rather play [well] together than only a couple people playing [well]. The team playing [well] is the most important thing moving on throughout the season.”
With only five more days of actual tournament play this season, the men’s golf team has already gotten a good taste of their competition this year, especially the Cardinal Stritch Wolves at the Deer Park Classic.
Some of the great scores at the Deer Park Classic included Bahnick’s combined score of 149 (75, 74), which landed him a tie spot for 22nd place individually.
Out of a total of 59 golfers, Perez placed 32nd with a score of 151 (77, 74). Lively’s score of 153 (77, 76) earned him a tie for 36th place, while Yaeger took 46th place for his score of 159 (80, 79). Kluk shot a 164 (82, 82), which put him in 53rd place.
Bahnick performed better at the second tournament of the season, probably due to the fact that he is getting more comfortable with his shoulder and realizing his ability despite his injury last season.
“…Our number one player Kyle Bahnik is starting to find his game again after rehabbing from a serious shoulder injury,” said Mandakas.
Following behind Bahnick are Yaeger and Lively, the second and third top scorers on the team. Perez was also one of the top performers at the Deer Park Classic.
“[They] have started out well and look to be good contributors this season,” said Mandakas.
Even though Yaeger has been playing consistently well, he’s the first one to say that he’s made plenty of mistakes. However, he learns from these mistakes.
“Although I’ve played decently to start, I have made a lot of mistakes, and I know what I need to work on to get better. Improving on my weaknesses is going to be my big focus for the rest of the year,” said Yaeger.
As the end of the fall season quickly approaches on October 14, the men are already looking forward to the close of their upcoming spring season and the championship.
“The tournament I’m looking forward to the most,” said Perez, “would have to be conference. I feel our team has got what it takes to win the whole thing.”
And indeed they can win the whole thing, as long as Cardinal Stritch stays out of the Cougars’ way.
“Cardinal Stritch is looking strong this year,” continued Perez. “They did very well in conference last year, so they will definitely be a good team to go up against this year.
Next, the men hit their home course for the first time this year and the only time this fall season for the SXU CCAC Fall Preview at Flossmoor Country Club on Oct. 3. Their tee time is 8 a.m.
Alexis Flamburis
Sports Correspondent