For the AU Men's Golf team, the spring season had been a challenge as it struggled to compete in one of the nation's hardest schedules. Coming into the weekend's Bullock Collegiate Classic in Fairborn, Ohio, the Eagles were determined to strike as they prepared to take on the Patriot League in the coming week.
Junior Phillip Kief posted a top 10 individual finish and helped the Eagles to a sixth-place team finish at the tournament hosted by Wright State University at Greene Country Club on Sunday and Monday.
Eastern Kentucky won the 15-team tournament, while Wright State finished second.
The conditions at the 7,007-yard course were grueling as the players were forced to battle their way through high winds and high temperatures throughout the weekend. After shooting a 75 on Sunday, Kief came into Monday's round and carded scores of 79 and 76 over the final 36 holes en route to a final score of 230 and a tie for ninth place overall. Kief's performance under the conditions impressed head coach Josh Cupp.
"Phil played really steadily and did what he's been doing all spring," Cupp said. "If not for a few bad holes and the windy conditions he could have placed even higher." Cupp added that he was concerned about the Eagles' ability to maintain a lead after the first day. The Eagles were in third place coming into Monday's round, one shot out of second position.
"We need to become better at closing it out," Cupp said.
The Eagles also received a strong performance from freshman Todd Shagin, whose first round 73 put him in a tie for third place coming in to the second day of play. Shagin carded a 78-80 over the final 36 holes to give him a final score of 231, putting him in a tie for 14th place overall. Afterwards, Shagin said he should have taken more advantage of the conditions that benefited his game.
"I hit the ball pretty low so the wind is not much of a factor for me compared to the other guys," Shagin said. "It gave me a clear advantage but unfortunately I didn't seize the opportunity."
Shagin also said he felt optimistic about the team's chances in the upcoming PL championship.
"I think we can win it and we will if we play consistently," Shagin said.
Senior Seth Kaplan carded rounds of 76 and 79 on the final day to finish with a 235 and in a tie for 22nd place overall. Junior Chris Scheiffer carded a 241 to finish in 42nd place for the tournament.
Cleveland State's Billy Houle carded a 1-under-par 215 (70-71-74) and finished in first place overall in the individual standings. Eastern Kentucky's team score of 898 (+34) led the Eagles to victory over the 12-team field.
After the tournament, Cupp talked about his team's chances at the upcoming Patriot League Championship.
"I think we'll be a lot more competitive this year than we have been in previous years," Cupp said. "During my tenure the PL championship has been our worst tournament, but this is our seventh tournament this spring so the guys should be on form."
Cupp noted that the toughest competition would come from perennial favorites Navy and Lehigh, which feature incredible one-seed players. Navy's Billy Hurley is ranked 30th overall in the nation by Golf Week magazine. However, "two through six we are right there with any team in the PL," Cupp said.
The Eagles play in the Patriot League Championships on Saturday and Sunday at the Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton, N.Y.
