Golf team anticipating challenging opener

The NMU golf team prepares for the first invite of the season this weekend at Lake Superior State.

Head coach Dean Ellis said the Wildcats strive for excellence in gaining new talent as the team looks forward to the 2010 season.

“We would like to move up in the ranks at the GLIACs and improve as a team,” he said. “We just finished the first round of tryouts, and it seems hopeful thus far with high expectations going into the season,” Ellis said.

Ellis said the Wildcats are optimistic even though they lost some key talent from last year’s graduating class.

“We lost Pete Jensen, who transferred to Northwood, who had made a tremendous impact to our program,” he said.

Although the losses may be a struggle for the team, Ellis said they still have no shortage of athletic talent coming into this season.

“Tony Bilich is coming back from National Guard duty, and we have Tyler Burton and Mike Murphy who are going to make an impact.”

Ellis said the team is excited for the first outing and he expects them to golf to the best of their ability.

“Whether or not the team succeeds this year on the green they are always looking to better themselves as golfers and looking for improvement as a team,” Ellis said.

The ’Cats will open up the 2010 season with a match on Thursday, Sept. 11 at Lake Superior State, followed by the Division II Regional meet in South Haven, Michigan, on Sunday, Sept. 19. After that, the Wildcats will golf on Saturday, Sept. 25, at the Grand Valley State Tournament followed by the GLIAC championships on Sunday, Oct. 3 in Detroit.

–– Brandon Wrobel

Patriot Day disc golf tourney this weekend

The Patriot Day Disc Golf Tournament will be taking place on Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Silvercreek Disc Golf Course in Harvey.

The tournament serves as a fundraiser for new equipment and is an opportunity to promote disc golf in the Marquette area.

The course will include nine baskets and each player will golf two rounds. The top four golfers from each division—beginner, intermediate, open and women’s — will enter finals and play one more round for the championship. The entry fee for any division is $10 and lunch is included.

Tournament supervisor Daryl Lee said the course is somewhat challenging because of its unique obstacles.

“It runs through a playground on the front side, so you have swings and slides to throw through, and it goes through woods on the back side,” Lee said.

Lee said disc golf offers a great opportunity for all athletic abilities because of its easy play and low startup costs.

“It’s great exercise, not that difficult to learn, and not expensive,” he said. “Unlike buying a new set of clubs for hundreds of dollars, you can pick up a new set of discs for about 15 bucks.”

There will be a raffle for prizes, which include brand new disc golf equipment. Trophies will also be awarded to the champions. In addition, if any participant wears something “patriotic,” in honor of Patriot Day, he or she will be given an extra raffle entry.

Lee said he would like to get as many NMU students involved as possible.

Sign-up will start at 9:00 a.m., the players’ meeting will be at 9:45 a.m. and the tournament will begin at 10:00 a.m. Silvercreek Disc Golf Course is located on 219 Silvercreek Road in Harvey. Those with questions can contact Daryl Lee at (906)228-3182.

— Mackenzie Myers