The University of Indianapolis men’s golf team beat out 12 other universities to win at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Spring Invitational on March 30-31 at Otter Creek Golf Club in Columbus, Ind. The Greyhounds finished at 296-290, nine strokes lower than the closest competitor, Wayne State University.
Out of the 87 student athletes who competed, three UIndy players finished in the top 10. Freshman Andrew VanAeist tied for sixth, securing his third consecutive top-10 finish, 74-73.
For the second-consecutive year, UIndy played host to the Ferris State University Bulldogs in a dual event on March 28 in Noblesville, Ind. Despite being the hosts, however, the Greyhounds fell by four strokes to the Bulldogs 289-293.
The Greyhounds were led in the one-round event by freshman Evan Stoker, who shot under par at -2. The finish by the freshman was a season low in his early collegiate career.
Despite winter-like weather conditions, the men’s and women’s golf teams continued to compete on the road in spring season play. Last week, both teams had high finishes in their respective competitions. The men finished second at the Butler Spring Invitational, March 24-25, while the women finished second at the Perry Park Spring Fling, March 22-23, and first at the Bellarmine Invitational, March 24.
Although the second round of the Butler invitational was cancelled, the men’s team still claimed the runner-up position. At the end of the first round, the Greyhounds possessed a combined score of 300. Junior Tucker Guisewite and VanAeist led UIndy in its performance at the invitational, with both finishing in third place.
UIndy fell by nine strokes behind Robert Morris University, but defeated Butler University, Chicago State University and Ferris State University.
Five individual competitors took to the course for the Greyhounds as well. Freshman Evan Stoker finished in 11th place at +3 for UIndy, while junior Garrett Bianchi tied with Senior Max Bowling for 26th. Redshirt junior Seve Duncan tied for 29th, and freshman Trae Cole and sophomore Jon Williams both finished at 43rd.
Bowling finished with 79 strokes in the invitational, which he said could be improved.
“Obviously I can do better, but it’s over now. So there is nothing I can do about it,” he said. “It’s kind of hard to stay focused when you’re not used to a green that is slow.”
The women’s team traveled to Kentucky that same week to compete in two events in the span of three days. The schedule of back-to-back events in a short time did not phase the Greyhounds, however, as the team finished in the top two spots in each competition.
The Greyhounds wrapped up their trip on March 24 by edging out Ferris State University by two strokes, providing UIndy with the victory. It was an all-around team effort by the Greyhounds, with all five of their team members finishing in the top 10. Junior Chanice Young led the way for UIndy, tying for second place with a score of 76.
In the Perry Park Spring Fling, March 22-23, the Greyhounds fell just nine strokes short of the Grand Valley State University Lakers, who claimed the team title (306-307-313). Senior tri-medalist Jenny Konop led the Greyhounds to their second-place finish with a second round score of 71, which was the lowest score of the tournament. Konop’s score also was a personal season low for the senior.
Konop said that despite her noteworthy performance, there still were areas where she could have performed better.
“It was a big event as far as [playing] a lot of holes. And I felt that, overall, I played very consistently and got into my round early. [I had] some rough stretches in between, but finished strong,” she said. “So I feel like if I can get in and finish strong, I just need to finish that middle section, and I’ll be good to go.”
The women’s team will compete at the IPFW Spring Classic, April 6-7, in Fort Wayne, Ind. The men’s team will compete at the Midwest Regional No. 3, April 5-6, at Batavia, Ohio.
