Entering their second year of varsity competition, the Hillsdale College men’s golf team is looking to “pose a big threat in the GLIAC,” according to sophomore team captain Steve Sartore.
The team of twelve includes returning senior Patrick Nalepa, as well as returning sophomores Logan Kauffman, Ben Meola, John Duffy, John Burke and captains Joe Torres and Sartore.
Hillsdale recruited freshmen talent as locally as Jackson, Michigan, and as far away as Perth, West Australia. The six incoming freshmen include Henry Hitt, Liam Purslowe, Peter Beneteau, Andrew Berryhill, Andrew Grayson, and Joel Pietila.
Head coach Nathan Gilchrist says the freshman players are “refined” and believes they add “more depth in the line up.”
Over the summer, Gilchrist implemented a strict practice routine that all players were expected to follow in anticipation of the season.
Sartore said each player was expected to spend an “hour on the range, an hour on long iron shots, two hours on wedges, and an hour on putting” every day. He added that the program aimed to encourage the players to hit “the same distance with different clubs.”
“This gets us comfortable hitting as many shots as possible and decreases stress,” he said.
Gilchrist made trips to visit the players over the summer and believes everyone followed the program well.
“The evidence of that is how much better they are from the spring,” he said.
Nalepa notes the difference in his game as a result of the practice regiment.
“It was nice to practice with a purpose,” he said. “Nate reminds us to hit every practice shot like we’re on the 72nd hole to win a tournament, and I became more intentional with each stroke.”
Official coach-instructed practice began on September 7. The Chargers use Bella Vista Golf Course and Coldwater Golf Course, both in Coldwater, Michigan, as their primary home courses. Hillsdale Country Club and the on-campus driving range are also used for local practice.
The Chargers hope all the summer practice pays off as the team plays their first tournament of the non-championship season on September 12 and 13 at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Qualifying matches began on Monday and will help to determine the five traveling players.
“As a Division I tournament, our players are very excited to see where they’re at,” Gilchrist said.
“To be the best you have to beat the best,” Nalepa said. “The best way to improve is to play against people better than you.”
But the hopes and expectations for this season are that the Chargers will be the best.
Gilchrist anticipates “sub-300 scoring.”
“Our returning players are more mature and experienced, and we have a really strong group of freshman to compliment them,” Gilchrist said.
“The accolades of the freshmen are a scroll long and really impressive,” Sartore said, echoing his coach’s sentiments. “We have every right to be GLIAC champions and hopefully make a try at nationals.”
With strong team chemistry and fresh talent, the Chargers hope to turn their experiences from the last two seasons into a competitive force this fall.
“A competitive culture within the team makes everyone better,” Gilchrist said.
