Photo by: Rich Clarkson and Associates
The Pioneer men’s golf team seems to have hit a wall. The golfers hit a season-low at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational on April 3 and placed dead last out of 16 teams. Ten days later, DU finished No. 19 out of 20 teams at the 2010 U.S. Intercollegiate tournament in Stanford, Calif.
“We struggle most with the mental aspect of the game and our players have begun to question their own abilities and some of lost their confidence,” said head coach Eric Hoos. “The thing we need to do the most is become more mentally tough.”
DU will play in the Sun Belt Conference championship tournament next Monday.
Only one player, senior Espen Kofstad from Oslo, Norway, has played up to preseason expectations. Kofstad, an All-American, has had success in almost every tournament he has participated in this season. His lowest individual finish this year was 21st.
“Espen has been even better this year than he has been in the past,” said Hoos. “He has been consistent from week to week.”
According to Hoos, besides Kofstad, none of the team’s other golfers have not played up to their potential and must get better.Unless the team performs better next week, DU will not qualify for the NCAA regional championships, which begins May 15.
At the SBC tournament, DU faces conference powers Middle Tennessee, New Orleans and South Alabama.
If DU does not improve, then Kofstad will be the only Pioneer golfer to continue his season, individually, in the NCAA playoffs, according to Hoos.
At the U.S. Intercollegiate, Kofstad finished tied for 8th place with a 2-under par score. However, other golfers cost the Pioneers a better overall finish.
The next best golfer for DU during that tournament was Troy Anderson who finished 79th with a score of 16-over par.
“We have the capability to win the conference,” said Hoos. “We just need to reach our potential and get focused.”
Although the Pionners are hobbling into the SBC tournament, unlike last season when they entered the tournament after finishing second at the ASU Thunderbird, this year’s squad does have the history factor on its side. In the past two seasons, DU has finished first and second, respectively, at the SBC championships.
