Both the men’s and women’s golf teams wrapped up successful Fall seasons on Oct. 31, and will start competing again in late February. Despite several newcomers on both teams, the results were quite familiar to the NSU community.
The women procured two individual titles and a team title during the Fall season and are currently the top-ranked team in the nation. Head Coach Amanda Brown was very pleased with how the team progressed. She was especially pleased with the freshmen players’ performance.
“The freshmen definitely improved throughout the Fall season. Daniela Ortiz is now ranked number one in the country, which is outstanding for a freshman. She improved on her putting tremendously. Lili Cammisa improved her ball striking and Chelsey Herbert improved her short game and overall strength,” said Brown.
Brown wants the team to continue playing with confidence in the Spring.
“With one team title, they got a taste for how fun it is to win and beat some of the best teams in the country. They should have the confidence that they are a national championship level team, and their youth isn’t going to hold them back,” she said.
Meanwhile, the men secured an individual title and a team title during the Fall season, as well as four top-five finishes. The team is ranked fifth in the country, and Head Coach Garrett Runion feels winning the final tournament of the Fall was huge for the team.
“Winning our last tournament of the Fall absolutely gives our team momentum heading into the Spring,” he said. “Last year we didn’t break through with a win until the end of the season. Then, it was like a big relief. This year getting a win early only motivates our guys to win more and not be satisfied with just one win.”
Runion’s main priority for the team is to stay focused and hungry.
“The biggest thing I want my guys to take from the Fall season is that we are good, but to never be satisfied. The second they think they have made it because they won a tournament or are ranked in the top-five of the country is the second they get lapped. They need to remain patient and focus on each tournament, hole, shot and not get ahead of themselves.”
Ben Vertz, senior golfer, felt the team performed very well, and needs to continue to improve for the Spring.
“The real thing we need to focus on is continuing to be committed to excellence; always finding and improving upon our weaknesses, and truly setting each of our individual goals in a way we can improve individually, and thus as a team,” he said.
