March 29, 2024

Spartan golf begins season today

SWCC loses great deal of depth from last year’s unit

The Southwestern golfers are set to hit the links today (Friday) in Maryville, as the Spartans look to continue trending in a positive direction as a program.

A mix of talent from near and far makes up this year’s roster, as the Spartans will boast five golfers from Australia and one from New Zealand, five of whom are slated to be in the lineup for today’s opening round of play at the Graceland Invite in Maryville.

SWCC has been getting in swings all winter, and coach Doug North is pleased with the work his athletes have put in this offseason, noting that he has seen obvious improvements in the near month that the Spartans have been able to practice outside thus far this year.

Part of that work has been done at Fullswing Indoor Golf here in Creston.

“The Somers family has been unbelievable. They pretty much let the guys and girls go in there whenever they want, so we kind of have an hour of indoor practice maybe once a week,” North said.

The lone experienced returner for the men’s squad is Hamish Brown of Aukland, New Zealand. North knows that Brown wasn’t personally satisfied with his play for portions of last year. He has pushed himself this offseason to get better.

“Hamish had some varsity experience last year. He did not play to what he thought his capabilities were and what I think his capabilities are,” North said. “He’s played really good this spring.”

The Spartans finished their fall season at Mozingo Golf Course In Maryville, and North felt optimistic about the finish to the fall at the time.

“The theme of this fall has been starting and closing,” said Spartan coach Doug North in mid-October. “We are five strokes away from a third-place finish and we have to realize we are never out of it.”

Jesper Hooke-Farnam, a Grundy Center native, will be the lone U.S.-born golfer in the lineup to start the weekend.

Freshmen Oliver Pearson, Patrick Coughlin and Shaun Richards, all Australia natives, will crack the lineup to start the season, while Hamish Brown comes back a sophomore with more experience than either of the other two men’s returnees.

Wes Davis of Fontanelle and Nathan Woosley of Indianola also return.

Reinhardt Saunderson will have his chances to get into the lineup, and finished as strong as any of the freshmen in the fall season.

Local talents Kyle Somers and Michael Stults of Creston join McCabe Herzberg of West Des Moines as the freshmen on the roster.

Ryan Palser entered the fold last year and will begin his first spring season alongside North as an assistant coach.

The Spartan women return just one golfer, Sydney Goltl of Omaha’s Mercy High School, from last year’s spring squad.

While Goltl has consistently been scoring at just over 100 strokes per 18 holes, North believes the sophomore has what it takes to get in the 90s this spring.

Creston native and freshman Hayley Osmun has shown encouraging signs to North and will play a crucial role on the women’s side immediately.

“She’s got a ton of potential and she’s made strides, especially in the mental game,” North said. “That’ll be her biggest payoff this spring is thinking through shots and not just stepping up and hitting it.”

Megan Fairchild, a freshman from Stuart and Bianca Findlay of Hopper Crossing, Australia will enter the lineup right away for the Spartan women.

“Excited to get going. I feel like every year that I’ve been coaching we’ve improved,” North said. “I think this year we are taking a step in the right direction.”

Roster

Lineup for opening meet in Maryville, Missouri (Graceland Invitational) in bold

Men’s Team:

Oliver Pearson, Fr., Melbourne, Australia

Hamish Brown, So., Aukland, New Zealand

Patrick Coughlin, Fr., Melbourne, Australia

Shaun Richards, Fr., Grovedale, Victoria Australia

Jesper Hooke-Farnam, Grundy Center

Kyle Somers, Fr., Creston

Wes Davis, So., Fontanelle

McCabe Herzberg, Fr., West Des Moines

Reinhardt Saunderson, Fr., Whangaparaoa, Auckland, New Zealand

Michael Stults, Fr., Creston

Nathan Woosley, So., Indianola

Women’s Team:

Bianca Findlay, Fr., Hopper Crossing, Australia

Sydney Goltl, So., Omaha, Nebraska

Hayley Osmun, Fr., Creston

Megan Fairchild, Fr., Stuart

Spring Schedule

March 23-24 — Graceland Invitational in Maryville, Missouri

March 31 — Iowa Central Invite at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny

April 3 — Iowa Wesleyan Tiger Classic at Sheaffer Memorial Golf Course in Fort Madison

April 16 — NIACC Invitational at Mason City Country Club

April 18 — Northeast CC and Central CC Triangular (Men’s only) at Elks Country Club in Columbus, Nebraska.

April 19-20 and 27-28 — ICCAC Women’s Championship at Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny

May 5-6 — ICCAC Men’s Championship at Lake Panorama National in Panora, Iowa