Saturday, October 20
Hummelstown, PA
All Day
Millersville University
at
PSAC Championships
Men's Golf Confident Heading into PSAC Championship
10/18/2012 11:32:00 AM | Men's Golf
Hummelstown, Pa. – Winning the Mercyhurst Invitational was nice, but it wasn't the trophy that mattered to Millersville men's golf interim coach Ron Weaver. What mattered was the confidence that it gave the Marauders as they head into this weekend's PSAC Championship at Hershey Links.
The Marauders have won three PSAC Championships but none since 2004. The team's best finish in that time frame was a second-place finish in 2009. Since the Marauders last won, Indiana (Pa.) has emerged at the front of the PSAC pack, winning five in a row. Weaver believes Millersville has the game to compete with IUP, and now it has the belief that it can. As the great golfer Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course--the distance between your ears.”
“They are finally believing that they can compete,” said Weaver. They are believing they can go out and play golf the way they can, not in fear of shooting a high number. I challenge each one of the players to play the game like you are playing with your friends, and then go out and play fearless. We are reading all the books, but if I see them looking scared, I walk right up to them and say, 'are you playing fearless? Are you committed to every shot?'"
Last week at the Mercyhurst Invitational, the Marauders battled on the final nine, shooting the best team round of the day, overcoming IUP, California (Pa.), West Chester, Gannon and Mercyhurst—all teams the Marauders will see this weekend.
“They found out last week that they can beat (IUP),” said Weaver. “It was the typical conditions that we play in at PSAC's…I think they were kind of shocked. The last nine holes, as a team, we beat everyone in the field. They gutted out it. They just have to believe they can do it and not start thinking, 'I'm playing against a team better than me.' No, no, no. We are as good or better than they are, we've proved that. If you don't think that, don't even play the game.”
Sparking the Marauders' team win was Robert Coyne, who is quickly developing into a No. 1 player. Coyne has placed in the top 10 in three of four events and has shot even-par or lower in five of his last nine rounds. He won the PSAC Men's Golfer Athlete of the Week award after winning the Mercyhurst Invitational at 4-under-par.
Coyne's emergence is somewhat a surprise to those outside the program. He played in only two events in 2010-11, and after a seventh-place finish in the season-opening event of 2011-12, he got sick and wasn't right the rest of the year. In fact, he finished last among all 35 individuals at the PSAC Championships. He certainly feels it is an opportunity for redemption.
“Bob is a great player," said Weaver. "Bob has a lot of natural ability. He now knows what we've been telling him. 'You can win, just keep playing, it will come to you.' He knew at the Mercyhurst tournament he was not only playing the last two holes for himself but for the team to win too. That challenge, he loved it, he wanted it.”
Sophomore Matt Lutz, who was a member the Towson golf team last season, posted his best score of the season last week. Junior Chris Fieger has rounded into a consistent performer, and Kevin Davis was outstanding at Mercyhurst, placing ninth at 4-over-par.
A shakeup to the lineup is junior Jonathan Heile taking the final spot on the championship lineup away from Conor Gilbert, who was one of Millersville's best golfers as a true freshman and started the season by placing 15th at the Hal Hansen Invitational and 11th in a loaded field at the Powerade Atlantic Region Invitational. Gilbert struggled in his last two events, while Heile tied for fifth in a strong field of 88 golfers at the Vulcan Invitational. Heile edged Gilbert in qualifying, leaving Millersville with only one golfer—Coyne—that played in last year's PSAC Championship.
Weather is also a major factor at the Hershey Links, which is open, windswept, and long. It might be even more of a concern since the three of the five in the lineup have yet to play in the conference championship. Weaver, though, says that the Marauders have played in poor weather all fall and it shouldn't be an issue. He's worked with the players on lowering their ball flights.
The Marauders comprise the first five groups on the course Saturday morning with Coyne teeing off in the first group at 9 a.m.
The Marauders have won three PSAC Championships but none since 2004. The team's best finish in that time frame was a second-place finish in 2009. Since the Marauders last won, Indiana (Pa.) has emerged at the front of the PSAC pack, winning five in a row. Weaver believes Millersville has the game to compete with IUP, and now it has the belief that it can. As the great golfer Bobby Jones once said, “Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course--the distance between your ears.”
“They are finally believing that they can compete,” said Weaver. They are believing they can go out and play golf the way they can, not in fear of shooting a high number. I challenge each one of the players to play the game like you are playing with your friends, and then go out and play fearless. We are reading all the books, but if I see them looking scared, I walk right up to them and say, 'are you playing fearless? Are you committed to every shot?'"
Last week at the Mercyhurst Invitational, the Marauders battled on the final nine, shooting the best team round of the day, overcoming IUP, California (Pa.), West Chester, Gannon and Mercyhurst—all teams the Marauders will see this weekend.
“They found out last week that they can beat (IUP),” said Weaver. “It was the typical conditions that we play in at PSAC's…I think they were kind of shocked. The last nine holes, as a team, we beat everyone in the field. They gutted out it. They just have to believe they can do it and not start thinking, 'I'm playing against a team better than me.' No, no, no. We are as good or better than they are, we've proved that. If you don't think that, don't even play the game.”
Sparking the Marauders' team win was Robert Coyne, who is quickly developing into a No. 1 player. Coyne has placed in the top 10 in three of four events and has shot even-par or lower in five of his last nine rounds. He won the PSAC Men's Golfer Athlete of the Week award after winning the Mercyhurst Invitational at 4-under-par.
Coyne's emergence is somewhat a surprise to those outside the program. He played in only two events in 2010-11, and after a seventh-place finish in the season-opening event of 2011-12, he got sick and wasn't right the rest of the year. In fact, he finished last among all 35 individuals at the PSAC Championships. He certainly feels it is an opportunity for redemption.
“Bob is a great player," said Weaver. "Bob has a lot of natural ability. He now knows what we've been telling him. 'You can win, just keep playing, it will come to you.' He knew at the Mercyhurst tournament he was not only playing the last two holes for himself but for the team to win too. That challenge, he loved it, he wanted it.”
Sophomore Matt Lutz, who was a member the Towson golf team last season, posted his best score of the season last week. Junior Chris Fieger has rounded into a consistent performer, and Kevin Davis was outstanding at Mercyhurst, placing ninth at 4-over-par.
A shakeup to the lineup is junior Jonathan Heile taking the final spot on the championship lineup away from Conor Gilbert, who was one of Millersville's best golfers as a true freshman and started the season by placing 15th at the Hal Hansen Invitational and 11th in a loaded field at the Powerade Atlantic Region Invitational. Gilbert struggled in his last two events, while Heile tied for fifth in a strong field of 88 golfers at the Vulcan Invitational. Heile edged Gilbert in qualifying, leaving Millersville with only one golfer—Coyne—that played in last year's PSAC Championship.
Weather is also a major factor at the Hershey Links, which is open, windswept, and long. It might be even more of a concern since the three of the five in the lineup have yet to play in the conference championship. Weaver, though, says that the Marauders have played in poor weather all fall and it shouldn't be an issue. He's worked with the players on lowering their ball flights.
The Marauders comprise the first five groups on the course Saturday morning with Coyne teeing off in the first group at 9 a.m.
PSAC Individual Champion: Timothy Peters
Monday, October 23
Senior Bobby Lugiano discusses the 2023 PSAC Championship
Monday, October 23
Millersville Golf Coach Scott Vandegrift talks about the 2023 PSAC Championship
Monday, October 23
Millersville Golf Coach Scott Vandegrift
Wednesday, June 19
