After facing stiff competition in tough tournaments, the Baker men’s and women’s golf teams have both shown positive signs during the fall season.
In its toughest tournament of the season, with the exception of nationals, the men’s team traveled to St. Louis, Mo., Tuesday to compete in the Lindenwood University Fall Invitational. The varsity and junior varsity teams competed in the 54-hole tournament that showcased 15 highly competitive teams. The Wildcat varsity squad finished 12th, followed by the JV squad at 15th. Head coach Karen Exon said the tournament was important for the men to play in against strong competition.
“The team that won was a national powerhouse junior college and the other six schools finished in the top 12 at the (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) tournament last spring,” Exon said. “We played against a collection of extraordinary golf talent.”
Exon said she was pleased with both teams’ performances and thought they competed to her level of expectation. She said the men’s team is still very young and has room for improvement.
“In grand scheme of things, I felt like this was a really good tournament for us and a valuable experience,” Exon said. “It’s important for our guys to see a caliber of competition at the top of the NAIA and what we’re striving to do in our program.”
Freshman Chris Wilson was the top finisher for the Wildcats with a total score of 228. Exon said the freshman was very close to placing in the tournament and with an improvement of his first round score, he could have been in the hunt. Following Wilson was senior Michael Kahler with a score of 238.
Wilson said he was happy with his overall play, especially in the second and third rounds, but just had a bad start to the tournament.
“About midway through my first round I realized I wasn’t having much fun which doesn’t allow you to play well,” he said. “Coach told me that I need to enjoy myself on the course and have fun with the guys I was playing, so I did and started playing better. Overall, I was really happy with how I played.”
The men will compete next in the William Woods Fall Invitational Monday and Tuesday in Fulton, Mo. Exon said the team will continue to face good competition, in particularly, a powerhouse team from William Woods University.
“I expect to see a good bit of conference and regional competition at that tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing how we do there,” she said.
On the women’s side, the ‘Cats competed in their first fall tournament Sept. 20-21 in the Missouri Valley Invitational in Marshall, Mo. The six-round, 36-hole tournament was made up of six teams and five schools. The Baker women placed second overall in the tournament with a total score of 728, just behind a William Woods squad who finished with a 684.
Exon said she thought the team played solidly.
“William Woods has competed well in the national tournament for the last four years so that tells us that in our conference and region we’re holding our own,” she said.
Senior Ashley Johnson and junior Melissa Brown were the top finishers for the ‘Cats, both finishing with a score of 178. Johnson and Brown tied with another player to finish seventh individually. Just behind the two, was freshman Dani Weimholt with a score of 182 as Baker’s third finisher. Weimholt said she thought the team performed well.
“I think we did a really good job being the first tournament,” she said. “Everybody did pretty well at least in one area or another.”
The women’s team competed Thursday and continue today at Clinton, Mo.