Men’s golf has had a mixed spring season up to this point, as they’ve struggled in some golf invitationals and prevailed in others.
The team has finished as high as second during their season and as low as 15th. The Vikings have struggled on their first days of competition, except at the Dubuque Invitational. However, they have always played better on the second day and finished in a better position.
Men’s head coach Paul Del Vecchio said the men’s team has been led by both experienced and new individuals.
“We have had some very good individual rounds posted by David Ferlmann and Michael Jacobs so far,” Del Vecchio said. “Michael’s round in particular was played under windy and cool conditions and against a strong field at Illinois Wesleyan’s Invite.”
Del Vecchio is confident the men’s team will continue to develop positively as the season goes on.
“I think we are getting a little more consistent and some guys are starting to play with a lot of confidence,” Del Vecchio said. “They are starting to understand that they have put in the practice. Now it’s time to go out and trust their games.”
Del Vecchio also knows that the men’s team is trying their hardest when they are competing. This past weekend showcased the team’s toughness as the first day of their Augustana Invitational was met with frigid conditions and heavy winds. The meet was held  at the Pinnacle Country Club in Milan, Ill. the first day, but the venue was changed to the Fyre Lake Country Club in Sherrard, Ill. where the team still had cold conditions for most of the day.
Del Vecchio said the team will develop into a better team as the season goes on. “I always expect my guys to compete,” Del Vecchio said. “They are close to putting everything in place, so we’ll just keep working hard so come time for our conference tournament, we’ll be ready. Overall we played well in spots. Conference was good for three rounds. We just had a tough second round that made it hard to catch up.”
The next invite for men’s golf is the Weist Foundation Classic at Decatur, Ill. on April 15 at 12 p.m. Some of the teams competing there will be fellow CCIW conference teams Illinois Wesleyan, Milikin, North Central, and North Park.