by Sasha Siclait
The Whitworth men’s golf team finished third in the Warrior Invitational tournament that took place on March 11 and 12 in Clarkston, Wash. There were six teams competing from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
The top overall scorer for the tournament was Kent Hagen from Washington State with a 69-71. The top two scorers from Whitworth were freshman Oliver Rudnicki with seven over par and a score of 75 for a total of 151 for the tournament, and senior Joey DeGroff with just three over par and scored a 71 and an overall total of 147.
“Joey DeGroff probably had one of his best rounds and Oliver [Rudnicki] was steady as he usually is,” head coach Warren Friedrichs.
According the Rudnicki the weather did not only affect his game, but the overall game of the team as well. The greens were a lot faster than what the Pirates had been previously practicing on and one of the few times they have been outside this season.
“The course was tough to adjust to since we haven’t been outside,” Rudnicki said. “It was good practice to know what we need to work on for the season.”
The lack of ability to practice outside this season was a factor in the overall success of the team this weekend, as well as missing one of their key players, junior Jesse Salzwedel according to Friedrichs.
“It was good to get back into tournament mode.” Friedrichs said. “We can certainly perform better, and the main thing is getting tournaments in and preparing for the Spring Classic and Championship.”
Freshman Andrew Dodge scored a 154 over the course of both days as well as freshman Tyler McQuilkin scored a 155.
Whitworth scored a 314 on day one, and again a 314 on day two, and that put them at third with a total of 628 over the course of their two day tournament.
“Our team definitely has potential,” Rudnicki said. “Both of our teams scored the same and that shows that our team has a lot of depth.”
The Whitworth men’s golf team will have their next tournament in Mira Loma, Cali. on March 26 and 27.
Contact Sasha Siclait at ssiclait16@my.whitworth.edu