By: Dustin Anand
The Northern Michigan University men’s golf team said they’ve been working hard this summer in search of a championship season
The ’Cats will take advantage of the warm weather to prepare for their season opener at the Lake Superior State University Invitational match, of which the time is still TBA, on Sunday, Sept. 8 in Brimley, Mich.
NMU Senior Jack Reid is a returning player on the team and says he has high hopes for this years season.
“I feel good about this upcoming year,” Reid said. “It’ll be nice this year because we will have a good amount of returning players with previous experience. I’m looking forward to working with newcomers on the team and see how well we can perform.”
Last year the ’Cats ended their season with a seventh place overall finish in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preview hosted by Grand Valley State University.
One of the concerns that the team has said could be a problem is the complications of weather. Reid said he was concerned if the weather would hold up for the team to put in quality hours practicing on the golf course.
“The weather is unpredictable and it affects the gameplay,” Reid said. “We try to get as much practice in and it really build the teams chemistry the more we practice.”
Reid also said that not only weather plays a factor but traveling as well as the team commits to travel to surrounding states.
“We have to travel the most out of most schools since we’re in the U.P. and we travel to lower Michigan, Illinois and Ohio. The weather up here always plays a factor in our game, it varies if we can get outside and have some practice.”
Jared Reid says one of the team’s goals this season is to be contenders in the three NCAA regionals throughout the season. The first Regional competition will be the Harborside International Saturday, Sept. 28 in Calumet City, IL. Following that will be The NCAA Regional II, on Friday, April 4 at Otter Creek in Columbus, Ind. Then the final, The NCAA Regional III will take place on Saturday, April 12 at Purgatory in Noblesville, Ind.
To prepare for the Fall season, the ’Cats have practiced throughout the summer and have all been working as a team as the season soon begins. NMU Sophomore Andrew LeGault says that he is determined to have a successful year with his teammates and make rank high in conference. LeGault said he feels the team’s chemistry is strong and will only continue to grow.
“The whole team has been working hard,” LeGault said. “My main focus is to keep getting better, getting lower scored. With a lot of returning players I think we should have some good team scores and stronger team chemistry.”
The ’Cats first stop is Brimley, Mich. for the Lake Superior State University Invitational. The three day match will be soon announced and starts Sunday Sept. 8 at Lake Superior State University.
