For the third time in three weeks, the Hillsdale College golf team finished a tournament in the top four. This time, the Chargers sat fourth among 25 teams after two days of golf at Elks Run Golf Club in Batavia, Ohio. As a team, daily scores of 305 and 303 totaled for a 608.
The high team finish came on the back on strong individual performances. Freshman Joel Pietila finished in fifth place with freshman Liam Purslowe two strokes behind and tied for sixth.
Sophomore co-captain Joe Torres and freshman Peter Beneteau both shot tournament scores of 156 and tied for 34th, while freshman Andy Grayson carded a 165.
“The course was very difficult,” Pietila said. “The conditions were some of the hardest we’ve played in all year with gusts up to 40 miles per hour and consistent winds. It made everything difficult but shows how well we hit the ball.”
Pietila explained that recently the Chargers have worked on flighting the ball more to keep it in play when the conditions are poor, which has helped improve their performance.
“Attitude is a choice and Charger golf tends to embrace the challenges,” head coach Nate Gilchrist said, noting how much more important this is in poor conditions.
This was a collegiate-best finish for Pietila, who said that despite not putting well, he is giving himself the opportunities to make those putts thanks to success on the fairways and greens.
Gilchrist explained the success of Pietila and Purslowe in their freshman seasons.
“They understand that it is an extremely difficult game to play and remain very patient and focused on only the things they can control on the course,” he said, predicting numerous victories from them in their careers.
“Consistency,” said Purslowe, “is my key to success. It was all about pars when the course was so wet with elevated pins.”
The team carded the fewest double bogies of any team at the tournament.
“You always want to eliminate the big mistakes while accepting the small ones and we did a good job of that this week,” Purslowe said.
The GLIAC is taking notice of the Hillsdale Chargers. Gilchrist has received compliments on “how joyful” it is for competitors to play alongside Hillsdale’s players.
“The other coaches express that same joy and are very happy with our growth and success. They think it is great where we are now compared to where we came from,” he said.
Pietila himself finds joy in the surprise that comes from other teams when the Chargers perform well.
“It’s nice to have earned their respect,” he said. “Now we’re looking for that from the top teams. We want them to know we are right behind them.”
Pietila and Purslowe are both looking forward to the GLIAC Championships at Longaberger Golf Club in Nashport, Ohio, on April 15-17, but for now they are excited about a weekend not spent on the Ohio Turnpike.
Out of 34 teams, the top eight in the Midwest region will qualify for the Super Regional in May. Gilchrist suspects that after last weekend’s performance the Chargers sit near the top ten going into the Championships. This means they need to win the GLIAC to be ensured a spot, but definitely need to finish in the top three to have a chance. Gilchrist likes his team’s chances.
“The team has been playing well and we are trending in the right direction,” he said.
