By: Tyler Push, Sports Editor
The Newman Golf team took two top 10 finishes in its latest matchup at the Hillcat Classic in Owasso, Oklahoma on March 14 and 15.
Freshman Alivia Nguyen found some success on hole 17 at Lincoln Golf Course when she left the tee box to find her ball in the center of the cup. This shot marked Nguyen’s second ever hole-in-one, the first of her collegiate career.
“I was walking toward the green, doubting that it went in, but then I saw that it was my ball,” Nguyen said. “I was so ecstatic, and the first person that I called was my dad.”
The women finished in sixth place and the men claimed eighth, marking a first time finish inside the top 10 for the men and second time for the women this season.
Head Coach Taryn Torgerson said that senior Kassidy Chance and freshman Felisa Sajulga, Bethany Griffiths and Britney Wessley have been scoring well.
“I have been pleased with what I have seen so far and the scores we have posted,” Torgerson said. “There is always room for improvement, but the girls have battled hard and put some good things together.”
Torgerson said that the golfers’ focus at practice has been challenging themselves to get a lot of repetitions with chipping and putting.
“The main struggle thus far has been iron play and approach shots,” she said. “We have not been able to take advantage of our good drives and capitalize on the good looks.”
Torgerson said that although the men’s season has not gone as they would have liked, she is pleased with their hard work and drive to improve their scores.
“The biggest struggle has been penalty shots in competitive rounds,” she said. “We have been throwing shots away by having to take penalty shots, which makes the score add up quickly.”
Seniors Ty Wilson and Justin Looper, junior Matthew Schrock, and freshman Sam Schouten have been mentioned by Torgerson as individuals who have helped the team progress thus far.
Women’s Golf will continue competition Tuesday and Wednesday at the Missouri Western State University Holiday Inn Express Classic in St. Joseph, Missouri. The men compete Monday and Tuesday at the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preview in Blue Springs, Missouri.
Photo: Courtesy Photo, Newman Women's Golf Twitter
