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Oiler Golf breaking records, winning tournaments, and receiving accolades left and right
By Collin Frazier
@Collin_53
With the fall portion of golf season wrapping up, both Men’s and Women’s golf at the University of Findlay have been making final pushes for a successful season. For the men’s season, it ended with a tournament win at the Kyle Ryman Memorial in Mohawk, Ohio. Head Coach Dominic Guarnieri and the rest of the team are happy to be ending on such a great win.
“For this to be the last tournament of the fall for the men and end on this note feels amazing,” Guarnieri said. “It shows what we are capable of when we are clicking on all levels.”
Along with a tournament win, the men’s team shattered its previous 54-hole school record of 864, with a score of 845 after everything was finished. However, this did not go without any worries. Due to a two-hour fog delay, the tournament had to end early due to darkness, and not every team was able to finish on time. Despite this, Guarneri reminded the team to control what they can control, not what they cannot.
“We preach all the time to not let the things we can’t control negatively affect us,” Guarnieri said. “There was nothing we could do about the darkness and they came out the next day ready to continue on their previous days success.”
Not only did the team as a whole succeed, but individual Oilers also received accolades, with Sam Griffith and Tanner Grzegoczyki both receiving back-to-back GMAC Player of the Week awards
“The way they have both performed the last two weeks has shown what they are capable of,” said Guarnieri. “They both play very relaxed and stick to their own game plans.”
With the men’s fall season now concluded, the team hopes to get better through the offseason and into the spring.
“We will continue to grow and make each other better daily. We can still have team practices until the end of October,” Guarnieri explained. “I can’t say enough about this team’s unity. From 1 through 17 they all support each other and want the best for one another. This makes myself and Assistant Coach Roth’s job so much easier. Ending the fall this way will only make them more motivated to be ready to go in the spring.”
The women’s team finished runner-up in the William Beall Fall Classic at Findlay, with The University of Indianapolis winning it. Despite this great performance, Guarnieri said he and the team were not satisfied with what happened.
“We did not perform to our expectations at all. We hope to make the adjustments and finish off the fall at Tiffin with a strong performance,” Guarnieri commented. “We have to eliminate the lack of focus and mental mistakes.”
However, the tournament did not go without impressive performances individually, such as the case with freshman Gabby Woods. Woods finished the tournament tied for fourth individually with a score of 229. She received all-tournament accolades as well. Guarnieri is hopeful that this is only the beginning for Woods.
“Gabby has had a really great start to the fall season as a freshman,” Guarnieri said. “She has all the tools you look for to excel at this level. I believe this is just the start of great things for her.”
Guarnieri says there is a key ingredient to both teams.
“No doubt unity plays a big part,” Guarnieri stated. “Like I said earlier, we really stress not letting the things we can’t control negatively impact us. This has helped us through these ever-changing times.”
Guarnieri then gave praise to assistant coach Roth for everything he does for Oiler Golf, as well as how hopeful he is for the women’s team to end on a high note.
“I just really want to praise my assistant coach Justin Roth for all his hard work and effort,” Guarnieri commented. “He was coaching the men’s team at Tiffin this weekend since we hosted a women’s event at FCC (Findlay Country Club). He really understands what it takes and it makes it easy for me having such a great assistant who I can rely on and trust when I can’t be around. He goes above and beyond what I ask of him. He deserves a lot of credit for the success of the program. [For the women’s team], we really are stressing hard this week ending on a high note. We want to play with a fire this weekend and bring are very best.”
The women travel to Tiffin for The Tiffin Fall Invite Oct. 10 and 11 at Mohawk Country Club.
