2008 Woodie Awards
Golf 13th in season opener
By Randy Klins
Issue date: 3/18/05 Section: Sports
The Slippery Rock University golf team struggled in its spring opener when the Rock finished 13th out of 18 teams at the Lonnie Barton Invitational in Hilton Head, S.C. this past week.
SRU finished with a two day total of 680, 55 strokes behind first place finisher Concord University in the tournament that took place March 12-13 at the Haig Point Club.
Junior Adam Schuster carded a 79 in the first round and a 78 in the second round to finish in 5th place overall with a 157. Schuster was six strokes off Bradley Corcoran of Long Island University for individual medalist honors.
The next SRU finisher was Chris Marron, finishing in a tie for 72nd place with a two day total of 175.
Coach Dave Crunkleton wasn't happy with the overall performance of his team.
"Schuster started out (his season) really well," Crunkleton said. "It was a really hard course for everybody. Everybody else has a lot of room for improvement."
Captain Adam Scott had high praise for the way Schuster played.
"Any good score helps," Scott said. "It always helps to have somebody step up and play well when I'm not playing well."
Scott was not impressed with his individual play.
"I'm very disappointed and I blame myself," Scott said. "I feel like I let everybody down. I didn't play well."
Haig Point, an island course, is ranked as one of the more challenging courses in America. With a dry, Bermuda grass surface and high winds, balls would typically roll off the green, making it difficult for many birdie opportunities.
"You couldn't make any errors," Scott said. "There were four or five holes that were right on the ocean. It was very difficult, lots of hazards, and a lot of high scores."
Scott said the team will only get better from playing at a course like Haig Point.
"This was the first time we've touched a golf club since October," Scott said. "It was a very good experience. We will only get better from playing this course."
SRU is looking ahead to the future after its difficult finish. The team looks to get out on the course sometime soon and begin practicing for the Marine Corps Invitational on April 1, in Camp LeJeune, N.C.
"I'm hoping for a top five finish and I'm expecting good things from our team (in Camp LeJeune)," Scott said. "I'm certainly five times more motivated now than I was prior to this tournament."
SRU finished with a two day total of 680, 55 strokes behind first place finisher Concord University in the tournament that took place March 12-13 at the Haig Point Club.
Junior Adam Schuster carded a 79 in the first round and a 78 in the second round to finish in 5th place overall with a 157. Schuster was six strokes off Bradley Corcoran of Long Island University for individual medalist honors.
The next SRU finisher was Chris Marron, finishing in a tie for 72nd place with a two day total of 175.
Coach Dave Crunkleton wasn't happy with the overall performance of his team.
"Schuster started out (his season) really well," Crunkleton said. "It was a really hard course for everybody. Everybody else has a lot of room for improvement."
Captain Adam Scott had high praise for the way Schuster played.
"Any good score helps," Scott said. "It always helps to have somebody step up and play well when I'm not playing well."
Scott was not impressed with his individual play.
"I'm very disappointed and I blame myself," Scott said. "I feel like I let everybody down. I didn't play well."
Haig Point, an island course, is ranked as one of the more challenging courses in America. With a dry, Bermuda grass surface and high winds, balls would typically roll off the green, making it difficult for many birdie opportunities.
"You couldn't make any errors," Scott said. "There were four or five holes that were right on the ocean. It was very difficult, lots of hazards, and a lot of high scores."
Scott said the team will only get better from playing at a course like Haig Point.
"This was the first time we've touched a golf club since October," Scott said. "It was a very good experience. We will only get better from playing this course."
SRU is looking ahead to the future after its difficult finish. The team looks to get out on the course sometime soon and begin practicing for the Marine Corps Invitational on April 1, in Camp LeJeune, N.C.
"I'm hoping for a top five finish and I'm expecting good things from our team (in Camp LeJeune)," Scott said. "I'm certainly five times more motivated now than I was prior to this tournament."
