The Augustana golf program has had several successful performances so far during their 2023 golf season. The women’s team finished fourth at the Midwest Regional Tournament, while the men’s team came in ninth. At the CCIW preview on Sept. 26 the men’s team took eighth place, and Avery Frick, senior, finished first at the Dechert Classic, on Sept. 29–30. So far both team’s performances have helped to establish confidence and excitement. This is especially for the women’s team who recently saw an increase in their numbers.

The golf team’s current focus is on getting off to a solid post-tournament start. As they advance in their pursuits, this tactic seeks to inspire confidence.

“I think for our team, we kind of have a lot of new people. So it was really important to get off to a good start, so that we kind of have the confidence moving forward,” First-Year Patrick McGrath said.  

With student-athletes juggling academic commitments with golf practices, good time management emerged as a vital component. This is especially due to the rigors of golf competition and the need to frequently miss class for the competition. 

Kelsey O’Connor, a junior on the women’s golf team, emphasized the need for open communication with academics and careful time management to meet both academic and athletic commitments smoothly. 

“I think time management is really important with golf tournaments,” O’Connor said. “We miss a lot of school, and we’ve missed like every Friday so far since school started. So definitely time managing and communicating with professors and making sure of everything [is] difficult but it’s doable.”

The team’s practice routine includes morning workouts on Tuesdays and Thursdays, followed by golf sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Some members of the golf team noted areas for improvement in their strategies and game plans after reflecting on the previous tournament. The team also focused on emphasizing golf’s distinctiveness as a sport that allows for personalized development. The golfers are also encouraged to seek coaching advice, particularly on the mental aspects of the game. 

The men’s and women’s golf teams are unwavering in their pursuit of success, exemplifying resilience, collaboration and an unwavering passion for the game. Some of this can be attributed to the co-ed coaching staff, which allows for more communication between the two teams.

“We both have the same head coach. So we do a lot of competition against each other,” McGrath said.

Friendship among members of the co-ed golf team allows for a greater bond among teammates, especially when it comes to cheering each other on at both teams’ respective tournaments.

“A lot of us are friends and we’ll hang out together in our free time,” Frick said. “Me and some of my teammates went and watched the boys conference tournament last year, and some of the boys came and watched our tournament last year too. So, a lot of us go to support each other.”

As the discussion turned to the upcoming season, the teams emphasized a common focus on the immediate future, tactically focusing on each upcoming event. With preparations in full swing, including simulator competitions and hard practice sessions, the spring season offered promise. Freshmen brought new vitality to the teams, creating healthy competition while strengthening a sense of togetherness and purpose. Their goal for now is to focus on the upcoming tournament next week. 

“Our main focus right now is placing well,” O’Connor said. “Last year we placed second, and now is probably our best shot, if ever, at winning. [We’re] trying to make sure everyone is working hard at it and on the same page to try and win it and get as close to the first team.”

It is clear that Augustana’s golf program is off to a solid start in the 2023 campaign. Both the men’s and women’s teams have put up remarkable performances in a variety of events, which has led to an increase in team members’ confidence and zeal. For the women’s team, which has recently experienced a spike in team participation, this renewed enthusiasm is particularly noteworthy.