Golf team holds high aspirations, lacks consistency
After 1996-97 conference domination, individuals' ability remains high
Justin Paris
Issue date: 4/14/98 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Drake Men's Golf Team, while returning a convincing squad, has suffered a slight lack of consistency that it hopes to remedy for the postseason.
"The team chemistry just is not what it used to be," Zach Johnson (BA4) said. "A lot of us are still living off of last year."
Last season, the team won the Bulldog's first Missouri Valley Conference Golf Title and qualified for the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships for the first time since 1939. Drake finished the year tied for 23rd in the nation.
That distraction has played out in a lack of consistency throughout the year. The team, Johnson said, has been too caught up in the hype of how Drake is doing and not focusing on the members' individual games.
"Our weakness this year has been getting consistency out of the entire team. Every week we have one or two players that play well, when we need three or four," said Head Coach Chris Elgart.
After the fall, Drake was behind Wichita State in the MVC rankings although they wrapped it up with a commanding victory at the Bradley Fall Classic. The team held eighth in the division, the bulk of which is composed of schools in the Big 12 and the MVC.
Drake, tying for fourth in a field of 18 April 6-7 in the Arkansas State Invitational, retains a lot of experience in four members of last season's MVC winning squad. That experience should support the Bulldogs as the regular season nears its end.
Academic All-American Ben Pettitt (BA4), who ranked second individually in the conference at the end of the fall, returns as the defending MVC champion. Pettitt, who leads the team with a 72.8 average, shot a low round 67 en route to winning the Bradley Fall Classic and earning MVC golfer of the week honors.
Ben Poehling (BA4), also an academic All-American and All-conference golfer, has scored in the top 20 in five of six fall tournaments. He finished third in the MVC tournament last season.
Johnson, who last year earned the MVC golfer of the week honors twice in three weeks, backed Pettitt by finishing second at the Bradley Fall Classic.
Cory Braunschweig (BA3), also an All-conference golfer, was fourth at the 1997 MVC tournament.
Elgart said Neil Johnson, the 1997 Greater Des Moines Boys City Champion, spent much of the off-season working to become the Bulldog's consistent No. five man. "He could be a very dominant player for us before his career is over," Elgart said.
"Any player on the team could win the conference title as an individual and that helps our chances," Elgart said.
Although aspirations are high for this season, the team goal is to continue to compete at the raised level of competition that the program has earned over the past few years. Elgart, last year's assistant coach, would like to see Drake continue to win conference titles on a yearly basis and land NCAA regional and championship tournament berths.
"The team chemistry just is not what it used to be," Zach Johnson (BA4) said. "A lot of us are still living off of last year."
Last season, the team won the Bulldog's first Missouri Valley Conference Golf Title and qualified for the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Championships for the first time since 1939. Drake finished the year tied for 23rd in the nation.
That distraction has played out in a lack of consistency throughout the year. The team, Johnson said, has been too caught up in the hype of how Drake is doing and not focusing on the members' individual games.
"Our weakness this year has been getting consistency out of the entire team. Every week we have one or two players that play well, when we need three or four," said Head Coach Chris Elgart.
After the fall, Drake was behind Wichita State in the MVC rankings although they wrapped it up with a commanding victory at the Bradley Fall Classic. The team held eighth in the division, the bulk of which is composed of schools in the Big 12 and the MVC.
Drake, tying for fourth in a field of 18 April 6-7 in the Arkansas State Invitational, retains a lot of experience in four members of last season's MVC winning squad. That experience should support the Bulldogs as the regular season nears its end.
Academic All-American Ben Pettitt (BA4), who ranked second individually in the conference at the end of the fall, returns as the defending MVC champion. Pettitt, who leads the team with a 72.8 average, shot a low round 67 en route to winning the Bradley Fall Classic and earning MVC golfer of the week honors.
Ben Poehling (BA4), also an academic All-American and All-conference golfer, has scored in the top 20 in five of six fall tournaments. He finished third in the MVC tournament last season.
Johnson, who last year earned the MVC golfer of the week honors twice in three weeks, backed Pettitt by finishing second at the Bradley Fall Classic.
Cory Braunschweig (BA3), also an All-conference golfer, was fourth at the 1997 MVC tournament.
Elgart said Neil Johnson, the 1997 Greater Des Moines Boys City Champion, spent much of the off-season working to become the Bulldog's consistent No. five man. "He could be a very dominant player for us before his career is over," Elgart said.
"Any player on the team could win the conference title as an individual and that helps our chances," Elgart said.
Although aspirations are high for this season, the team goal is to continue to compete at the raised level of competition that the program has earned over the past few years. Elgart, last year's assistant coach, would like to see Drake continue to win conference titles on a yearly basis and land NCAA regional and championship tournament berths.
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