Golf places at tournaments
The University of Indianapolis men’s golf team participated in the year’s second Midwest Regional tournament April 6-7. The men placed fourth among 24 participating teams.
Senior Tobin Dunigan placed fourth overall. He scored 75-69 and finished at an even par for the tournament. Dunigan also set a career low with his second-round score. Junior Max Bowling tied for 17th with a score of 75-74. Dunigan and Bowling were the only two Hounds to reach the top 20. On April 4, Dunigan also was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference men’s golfer of the month for March.
March 31-April 1, the women’s team played in the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Spring Classic. Two players, junior Jenny Konop and sophomore Regan Pittard, co-medaled in the classic. UIndy scored 308-308 and scored lower than all of the Division I field by eight strokes. Individually, Konop scored 75-73, and Pittard scored 73-75, which resulted in matching scores of +4 for the event. This was Konop’s fourth collegiate medal and the first for Pittard.
Head Men’s and Women’s Golf Coach Brent Nicoson said that the team did not practice differently, but credits the team’s new attitudes for this season.
“I don’t necessarily think it’s anything that we’ve worked on is different other than the fact that mentally they [team members] believe that we’re going to win anytime we go out to play. Doesn’t matter who we’re playing, which is great,” Nicoson said.
Sophomore Jaclyn Schindler placed third in the tournament with a two-round score of 151 (77-74). Sophomore Chanice Young also placed in the top 20, tying for 13th in the tournament of 61 with a score of 78-79. Young also credits higher confidence as her key to doing well on the course.
“I think I’ve been more confident this season. I’ve worked a lot harder. I think my hard work has paid off this season,” Young said.
As of April 5, the men’s team ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Midwest Regional Rankings, while the women ranked No. 24 overall in the nation. Even though Nicoson is impressed with those rankings, he is looking ahead to the rest of the season and working toward what he believes are very realistic goals for his teams.
“Our goals are always the same—make the run of the conference championship, get in the NCAA tournament and then take our best shot when we get to nationals,” Nicoson said.
Due to inclement weather, the Bellarmine Invitational was canceled on March 24 for the women’s team. Besides the cancellations, both teams have been forced to practice inside the Athletics and Recreation Center. Young said that having to practice inside was frustrating, but the newly finished facility has helped her stay active.
“We have this [the ARC] that we used in December and January when we were off. That was really helpful,” Young said. “It’s been incredible to have it here. It’s easier access. We don’t have to drive and go off campus to practice they didn’t have to the previous years. So it’s been really nice.”
According to Nicoson, not being able to get to the course has been frustrating for his players, but he has seen benefits.
“It [having the ARC] has helped our short game and putting more than anything. Usually when we go out in the spring, it takes a while to get used to the putting stroke and getting that feel back,” Nicoson said. “We can do more things as a team now that we couldn’t do before, until we had the new facility. There are two things—being back to work together as a team and working in putting.”
The women’s team will have its next tournament April 13-14 in Bowling Green, Ohio. The men will compete in their third regional tournament at the Purgatory Golf Course in Noblesville, Ind., April 14-15.
