Listen HereBy Dylan DeWitt
Twitter: @dd_witt
For records, they are set in order to be broken. Great accomplishments remain great accomplishments, but as time goes on those accomplishments begin to take a backseat as a record gets broken. This past week when the women`s golf team was competing in the Indianapolis Invite, the team was able to etch their names into the record books for the best 54-hole score in program history with an 894. The team included seniors Samantha Hatter and Makenzie Torres, juniors Samantha Kellstrom and Meredith Wipper, and sophomore Kristina Kniesly.
The team was led by Torres with a three round total of 221 with scores including 77, an under par round of 70, and rounding out at a 74. Sam Hatter also had a good showing at the tournament with a respectable 226 which placed her at a tie for 22nd, along with Wipper and Kniesly at 226 total for both team members placing them at a tie for 25th. Kellstrom would also go on to shoot 231 placing her inside the top 40 of the field.
The previous record which was set a little over two years ago was set at the DII National Championship in Aurora, Colorado. The 54-hole score of 899 was set by All-American Kasey Petty and Shelby Warner, Kelsey Koesters, and Samantha Hatter and Makenzie Torres who were freshman at the time. These two seniors have made big strides in the program with the improvement of not only their games, but also through the togetherness the team has built off.
This has been something that Coach Dominic Guarnieri has been able to see over the past several years as the seniors and rest of the team have matured and gained experience.
“One of the biggest things that this (breaking the record) means for us as a team is not only showing our depth, but most importantly coming together as one,” said Guarnieri. “This allows us to continue to make each other better by improving each day.”
The mental toughness was another thing that Guarnieri eluded to and gave some great examples of what this tournament was able to show especially in the two seniors. Torres in the first round took a 9 on one of the holes and ended up playing her last 46 holes at one under par from there on out. Hatter started her final round +4 through five holes and finished the last 13 holes at three under par.
For Guarnieri, he has been able to see plenty of change from a coaching standpoint from all of the girls in the program. For first year assistant coach, Justin Roth, coaching girls golf was a first time experience that was truly so enjoyable to be a part of.
Roth, a student athlete alum who played on the men`s golf team from 2014-2018, was only able to really see the biggest strides from the men`s point of view although both teams would often practice and interact with one another. However, coaching women`s golf was something that Roth was ready to take on heading into the first tournament.
“Coaching golf is simple in its own way if you really think about it, and the girls this week really demonstrated how simple it was for me,” Roth stated. “They were able to execute all awhile having plenty of fun and enjoy every moment. It was a first of many great opportunities with this program.”
The women`s team is going to look to continue their stellar play as they begin the G-MAC Fall Invite in Columbus, Indiana this week where another 54 holes will be played. Perhaps another record breaking week for the women`s team is coming. Records are meant to be broken right?
