In the first tournament of the fall season, the Hillsdale College golf team placed second, finishing behind Grand Valley State University.
The team played at the Al Waltrous Memorial Invite in Bay City, Michigan. Saginaw Valley State University hosted the event on Sept. 9-10.
In the two day tournament, the team shot 578, falling 18 strokes behind Grand Valley’s tournament-dominating score of 560. Hillsdale topped Saginaw Valley for second place by one stroke.
Despite an injured shoulder, junior Joel Pietila led the team with a two-round score of 142. Pietila tied for sixth place as an individual, and the Great Midwest Athletic Conference named him men’s golf Player of the Week.
Junior Liam Purslowe, who played with back pain, tied for twelfth as an individual, shooting 144.
Purslowe said he worried he and Pietila were underprepared for the tournament because of their injuries, but they were able to post low scores.
He said the team’s transfer to the G-MAC will help them be more competitive.
“Look out for us at the top of the leaderboards,” Purslowe said.
Head coach Nathan Gilchrist attributes the success to their work ethic, rather than the conference change.
“They both worked hard to rehab their injuries,” Gilchrist said. “They were committed to getting healthy as fast as possible and worked on their short game a lot during the rehab process. They are tough minded competitors. They have gotten a lot stronger mentally since their first semester on campus.”
Sophomore George Roberts played one of his most competitive tournaments since joining Hillsdale’s golf team. He tied for twelfth as an individual, also shooting 144.
He discussed his off-season golf routine: “I did not play too many competitive rounds this summer. I mainly spent time with friends and worked, but I worked at the golf club, so I’d always practice after work. I believe it kept my swing in shape, but did not tire me out, and it ensured I’m prepared for the busy few weeks ahead.”
Roberts said his iron play has given him more birdie opportunities.
“I have been able to pick my targets and hit them,” he said. “My putting is what let me down last year, but I now have a new custom-fit putter, which has renewed my game. It’s allowing me to shoot the scores which I was so close, yet so far, from shooting last year.”
Gilchrist said the team will have to eliminate disastrous holes to compete with Grand Valley.
“The team needs to eliminate the big numbers,” he said. “They can not make double bogeys or three putt if they are going to win golf tournaments and compete with the best teams.”
Roberts said he posted a solid score by making better decisions that helped shave off a few strokes.
“The second round I hit the ball equally good as the first, but instead found the right places on the greens, thus converting bogeys into pars and pars into birdies,” he said.
Gilchrist said Roberts struggled off the tee, but excelled in his putting and iron game.
“Most of what I saw from George was great,” he said. “He was focused on the shot at hand for the entirety of both rounds and he putted great both days. George’s biggest weakness last season was his putting. He worked really hard this summer on it and is now seeing the residuals from putting in the time on the putting green.”
Senior Joe Torres and sophomore Ryan Zetwick rounded out the team’s five player roster for the tournament. Torres shot 152 and Zetwick shot 150.
Gilchrist said NCAA rule changes have altered how the team practices.
“I have tailored practices to focus on each individual’s weaknesses more this fall,” he said. “The NCAA implemented new legislation that gives us less time to practice, due to our travel schedule. So, the practices have to be even more efficient than in the past because of the lack of time allowed. The first half of practice focuses on short game, the second half focuses on each individual’s weak points.”
