The Seton Hill University (SHU) men’s golf team is off to a slow start, but is always striving for improvement.
Senior teammate Matt Galando said the team “has been struggling.” He said the team is not shooting the scores they are capable of, but although it has been a rough start, Galando said he has faith the team will improve steadily.
By Bethany Merryman,
Contributor
The Seton Hill University (SHU) men’s golf team is off to a slow start, but is always striving for improvement.
Senior teammate Matt Galando said the team “has been struggling.” He said the team is not shooting the scores they are capable of, but although it has been a rough start, Galando said he has faith the team will improve steadily.
Last season the team finished off strong.
“Last season was tough, but our men focused on improving each tournament. From what I can remember, our scores slowly dropped, ending the season on a strong note,” said Galando.
Head coach Brian Carroll said that the team made tremendous strides last year.
“Considering that going into last year only two players had any experience competing at the collegiate level, I thought that the team made significant improvements throughout the year,” said Carroll.
Both Carroll and Galando said the toughest meet was Clarion University’s tournament at Clarion Oaks Golf Club.
“It was very difficult for our players to get adjusted to the speed and the slopes of the greens,” said Carroll.
Galando actually compared the green to putting on the SHU driveways.
“I knew this course would be difficult, and I was not looking forward to playing it,” Galando said.
Carroll said that by the spring semester, he expects the team will be full strength.
Last spring in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Northern Regional the team had their lowest tournament score of the year and placed 9 out of fifteen WVIAC teams.
The team’s records are not win-loss, but the team tends to finish near the middle of the pack in most of their tournaments.
“I would like to see our team work on all facets of their golf game, said Carroll. He says that every one of the players has significant room for improvement, and the more they practice the better opportunity they will have to reach their potential.
Galando wants to improve on all aspects of his golf game.
“I know the level I am capable of competing on, but the trick is to actually compete at that level for more than a few holes. As with ever other athlete, I want to be on the team, and that is worth working for,” said Galando.
This year the team will potentially lose three seniors: Galando, Doug Wood, and David Haynes. Carroll said all three players have brought a tremendous amount of talent to the SHU golf program and will be sorely missed when the season concludes.
Carroll also talked about freshman Kyle McCullough, a recruit from Hempfield High School, who has made an immediate impact on the team and has potential to become one of the school’s best golfers.
“I am very pleased with Kyle’s progress thus far and I am excited that he is a member of our golf team,” said Carroll.
*Article Under Construction