Golf improves in Chicago

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In the Midwest Regional tournament, Hillsdale’s golf team showed they can compete with nationally ranked teams.

The tournament was hosted at Chicago’s Harborside International golf courses.

The Chargers carded an overall score of 625 with a season-low tournament round of 302 on Monday.

After sitting in the middle of the pack at 17th place at the end of the first day of play, the team finished tied with fellow GLIAC school Ohio Dominican for 21st place out of 34 teams. Hillsdale finished ahead of GLIAC teams Northwood (23) and Lake Erie College (32), as well.

Senior co-captain Matt Chalberg continued his streak as the Chargers’ tournament low scorer with rounds of 73 and 79 for a total of 152 which gave him a 36th place finish in a field of 170. Freshman players Ben Meola and Joe Torres shot tournament scores of 159 and 168, respectively.

Freshman Steve Sartore carded a 78 on Tuesday, finishing only two shots back of Chalberg in the tourney.

“Steve has gotten a little better every round and it is to his credit. He has made some improvements to his game and it’s paying off,” head coach Mike Harner said.

Senior co-captain Brad Mitzner shot both a collegiate career low and a high on the two days of the tournament, scores of 75 and 90 for a 165 total.

“The weather and swing gave way,” Mitzner laughed.

Coach Harner said this speaks to the drastic change in conditions from Monday to Tuesday. “To his credit, [Brad’s] demeanor didn’t change from one swing to another, through the highs and the lows. That’s something that’s very important,” Harner said.

The tournament served as a good measure of comparison for the team, Harner said.

“We know we can shoot competitive rounds. Malone is nationally ranked and we finished only ten shots back,” Chalberg said.

The team played two different courses on days with completely different conditions. In addition, they were only able to play a practice round on one of the two courses.

“The weather on Monday was 76 with hardly a puff of wind and the courses were there for the taking,” Harner said.

“The Windy City lived up to it’s reputation” on Tuesday, Chalberg joked.

On Friday, five members of the golf team will head to Ada, Ohio for 36 continuous holes at the Polar Bear Classic, the last tournament before the GLIAC Conference Championship in Georgetown, Kentucky on October 10th.

To prepare for the championship, Harner has invited Champion’s Tour player Michael Allen to work with the team next week.

“On Monday we’re going to do some stone-cold sober evaluation of every player’s technique. Michael is another set of eyes and one of tremendous experience and knowledge. I think our kids can learn a lot from him,” Harner said.

Tuesday, the team will play a round at their home course, Bella Vista, in Coldwater.

“We will move [Michael] around the course to play a couple holes with different groups and have him teach them about course management. One of the unique things about college golf is sometimes you don’t get to practice a course before you have to play the course. You have to be able to read a course and get your ball around. Being able to have a game that travels is the sign of someone who understands how to play the game of golf. Michael will help us with all that.”