By Max Calenberg
Two weeks ago, the Grinnell Men’s Golf team wrapped up their season, taking fifth at the Midwest Conference Tournament at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, IL. Grinnell’s top finisher, Peter Marsho ’12, took seventh with a 239 for three days play. Alex McDonald ’11 was the next top finisher, taking 18th with a three-day tally of 251.
“I think the team did a good job of competing,” McDonald said. “It’s an extremely difficult course especially for the newcomers who had never seen it before. There’s a conference rule that says you’re not allowed to play it beforehand and they came in and improved throughout. I think the greens took a while to get used to.”
The greens were unfamiliarly fast for a few reasons, according to McDonald.
“It’s an exceptional course that keep their greens in superb condition, and we play it latest in the year when courses have the chance to grow grass and mow their greens shorter than what we face in the beginning of the year and shorter than what the Grinnell Country Club grows.”
This season Grinnell had to deal with losing a Golf legend to graduation.
We definitely lost one of the best players that Grinnell College has ever had, that’s Pete Kieselbach ‘10, two time Academic All-American,” said Head Coach Brian Jaworksi.
McDonald elaborated, emphasizing the team’s secure future.
“Well every team has to deal with graduation except for Memphis Basketball, and I think we handled it very well we had some very strong newcomers that came in and competed, and that’s tough for a freshman to come out of high school because the college courses are much more difficult,” he said. “They helped us out a lot and I think through the ranks we had key players in every class and that’s great for the future years because they’ll be able to continually improve and there won’t be a major drop off.
Regardless of their Conference ranking, Jaworksi still considers the season a success.
“It’s very difficult to create a team atmosphere in such a sport dominated by individual performance. But we feel as a golf program that you can’t really control the wins and losses you can’t really control the score that you’re going to shoot today but you can control what type of teammates you are,” Jaworski said. “We try to control the things that we have the most influence, and that’s being a good teammate and working hard and trying to be competitive in the right way.”
McDonald agrees.
“Even though we didn’t win conference I think that the season was unquestionably a success,” he said. The guys get along great with each other I’m sure the van rides I’m sure are what everyone will point to as their favorite memories so I have no regrets for my senior year.”
With the season over, the golfers may still be honored for their accomplishments off the course.
“I think we’re going to have everybody that’s eligible be named Academic All-Conference on our golf team which is great,” Coach Jaworski said.
For next season, Coach Jaworksi hopes his team stays focused over the summer.
“This is the summer that each of the golfers needs to dedicate more than what they have in the past to dropping a shot or two. Remember, we’re talking one shots or two shots. But if you’re two shots better at every position you’re eight shots better as a team,” Jaworski said.
Additional Reporting by Megan Schlabaugh
