This past weekend, both the Whitman men’s and women’s golf teams traveled to Moses Lake, Wash. to play in a three-team match against Whitworth University and North Idaho College, opening up their respective spring seasons. Both teams finished third despite some impressive individual performances.
The men’s team managed a 28-over par, 316 total, finishing behind both Whitworth (304) and North Idaho (306). It was a rather disappointing outcome, but there were a number of highlights to take from the first match of the season. Missionary senior Steve Campbell, who has been slowed by illness in the last few weeks, shot a stellar 72, finishing in a tie for first with North Idaho’s Branden Dalton. First-year players Geoff Burks and Peter Clark both finished in the top 10 as well, Burks with a six-over, 78and Clark with a seven-over, 79.
“It was basically a kick-off tournament for us. It was a good sounding board for us to see where we are and where we need to go,” said Head Men’s Coach Peter McClure. “It was a good learning experience and a good physical experience.”
Whitman’s last tournament action was in mid-October. As a result many of the players were a little rusty.
“I didn’t play quite as strongly as I’d like, but for such a long layoff I felt fairly happy with my game and am expecting much lower scores later in the semester,” said Burks. “As for the team, I think that we all did pretty well: there were a couple people who are still coming off of the long winter layoff, but I expect everyone’s game to be back up to par by our next tournament.”
The women’s team finished with a 357, just behind North Idaho (354) and well back of Whitworth (332). Despite finishing third in the match, Head Women’s Coach Skip Molitor found positives in the women’s performance.
“In the fall season, the Whitman women surpassed the 357 team total only twice in seven outings, so this first spring round was a promising start to what looks to be an exciting spring for the Whitman women’s team,” Molitor said.
Much of Molitor’s excitement is due to first-year player Tate Head, who finished alone in third place with an 81. Head held a four-stroke lead after the opening nine holes, but ran into some difficulties on the back nine. Junior Sydney Saito played a consistent game and recorded Whitman’s second-lowest score, a 91. First-years Sydney Conway and Caitlin Holland finished with a 92 and a 93 respectively.
The women’s team will head to Clarkston, Wash. on March 15 to participate in the two-day, Lewis-Clark State Invitational; then both teams will head to California for two matches during spring break.
