Golf team ends Fall season on high note

The men’s golf team wrapped up their Fall season last Tuesday, Oct. 3, playing in the Cougar Invitational at Columbus State. Senior Johan Cronvall finished four-under par and tied for first place; with his help, the team finish tied for second out of 18 teams at the tournament.
The Bobcats finished 10th in their season opener, Sept. 12 in Kiawah Island, S.C., and ended their season on Tuesday second in the Cougar Invitational, their highest placement of the year. Players Juan Bialet, Cronvall, and Kyle Collins proved to be strong players this season as they leadthe team.
 Bialet, a junior from Buenos Aires, Argentina, is among four other international students on the team.
“I came here to play golf and to get a degree,” Bialet said. “I thought it would be a great opportunity and experience as well.”   
The golf season consists of four tournaments in the Fall, and eight in the Spring. Their roster of 13 players is comprised of four seniors, three juniors, and six freshmen
Bialet played in all four tournaments and finished this season with a stroke average of 74.
“I would say that my strengths are my driver, my long game, and my ability to shape the ball,” Bialet said. “And, my weaknesses are definitely my putter and my temper.”
Only five players are chosen from the team to compete in each tournament, making competition among team members tough. Each tournament starts out with a practice round on Sunday, followed by 36 holes of golf on Monday, and 18 additional holes to end the tournament on Tuesdays. Each player is required to carry their own clubs on foot for each hole, making for a tiring few rounds of golf.
Cronvall, talks of the importance of working out in and between seasons.
“It is really necessary to workout when you are a golfer,” Cronvall said. “We walk so much that if you’re weak, you won’t be able to make it.”
After the season opener, they went on to play in the Development Group Intercollegiate Tournament hosted by Francis Marion on Sept. 19 and tied for 12th out of 18 in the tournament.  Bialet lead GCSU at Francis Marion finishing 14th overall, followed by Collins.
The Bobcats then went on to play at the Raines Development Group Intercollegiate Tournament hosted by Francis Marion on Sept 26. The Bobcats finished 11th against 17 other teams. Cronvall led the Bobcats by tieing for 14th overall in the tournament.
 Cronvall finished the Fall season competing in all four tournaments with a stroke average of 72.
Although the golf Fall season is over, the players will now undergo training and conditioning until the Spring with Dr. Mike Martino. Their main objective is to become skilled enough to win nationals this year, which will be held in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Jimmy Wilson, the head coach of the men’s golf team, is hoping to reach the NCAA tournament again this year and come home with the title.
“Even though our results haven’t been what I had hoped for,” Wilson said, “I see a lot of promising things in players for the Spring, and our main goal is to win nationals.”
The Bobcats will begin their Spring season on Feb. 12, 2007, at the Florida Southern Invitational held at Florida Southern.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 6 2006. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry