MAKING THE FINALS…ON TWO FRONTS

Perhaps the most impressive feat the 2009 men’s golf team turned in wasn’t their second trip to the NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships in three years, or making the final cut for the first time since 1978, or capturing their 11th conference title and third under Dave Ragone.

Their most impressive accomplishment may have been making sure the five-man squad’s lone senior – Greg Jones – got back from Florida in time for Sunday’s noon Commencement ceremony.

“We had plenty of time,” joked Ragone after his team left their Florida hotel at 3:30 Sunday morning. “We got back to Monmouth around 11:30 and Greg’s mom had his cap and gown waiting for him. He was nervous about getting back in time. We knew it would be close.”

“Close” also described the Scots’ play in making the finals cut last Thursday. Sitting in 28th place after the first round on Wednesday, the Scots needed to pull into at least 23rd position after the second round in order to make the finals field of 23 teams. Thanks to a round that saw four of the five Scots shoot in the 70s, Monmouth’s 305 on Day 2 was enough to squeeze them into the field for the final two rounds with a 619.

The Scots ended their season with 72 grueling holes of golf on the Ryder and Dye Courses in Port St. Lucie, Florida, finishing in 23rd position after shooting rounds of 314-305-313-324 to finish at 1256.

Wait a minute. How could 72 holes of golf – IN FLORIDA – be considered grueling? After all, as the saying goes, “Even a bad day at golf is better than a good day at work.”

Maybe when it’s for the national championship.

“The guys really didn’t show any fatigue during the rounds,” said Ragone. “They had the adrenaline going and said they weren’t physically or mentally fatigued at all, but once it was over, they crashed. They slept most of the way on the flight home Sunday. Overall, it was a great, very rewarding experience.”

Monmouth’s 314 average at the national meet was just a half stroke higher than their season average, but left them 92 strokes behind the champion, Oglethorpe University with an 1164.

“Going in, we thought if we shot 310-310 the first two days, 620 would make the cut,” reported Ragone. “After we practiced on the Dye Course – the toughest of the two – we knew 310 would be a pretty good score. On the second day, we knew we had to shoot between 300 and 305 to make the cut.”

Four rounds in the 70s in the second round did the trick. Ted Starkey’s 74 led the way, followed by Rodney Clayton’s 75 and a pair of 78s from Ryan Harvey and Ryan Tapscott. Jones’ tournament-best 82 that round didn’t count in the team score, but it was a nice rebound from an opening-round 90 and his 83 on the final day DID count in the team score.

The Scots had plenty of spectators as they finished the crucial second round. The day’s latest tee time meant the entire field and their fans were in the gallery on 18.

“It was a pretty exciting finish,” said Ragone. “It wasn’t looking too promising at the turn, but the guys really stepped it up on the second nine. Tappy rolled in a 10-footer for par on 18. All our guys parred 18. If anyone of them hadn’t, we would have gone to a playoff for the last spot. The guys were pretty pumped after making the cut. That was our goal – to make the cut.”

The Scots kept the momentum going in Round 3 and pulled themselves up to 22nd place with 18 holes remaining. The final day brought the Scots their share of struggles. After posting a 324, Monmouth finished 23rd in the nation.

“We wanted to shoot 305 to 310 in the final round to finish in the top 20,” said Ragone. “We just didn’t get it done, but we’re treating this as incremental achievements. Two years ago we didn’t make the cut. This year we made the cut. Now, we’re looking at a top 10 or 20 finish in the future.”

That seems like a realistic goal for the Scots, who lose only Jones from this year’s national team to graduation. The four returners each averaged below 80 for the season and had their share of highlights last week.

Harvey was the picture of consistency, hitting the fairways and firing 78s over his first three rounds, but it was Clayton who began the week with a bang. The sophomore’s 1-over 73 in the opening round could have been even par if not for a bogey on 18. He also recorded the Scots’ lone eagle of the tournament – in the crucial second round.

Think about that, no eagle and the Scots either miss the cut, or go to a playoff for the final spot.

Starkey matched Clayton’s 73 with a 73 of his own in the third round. He could have been below par if not for a triple bogey on the front nine of the Dye Course. Clayton and Starkey were the Scots’ top finishers, tied for 69th with five other golfers at 309. Harvey carded a 317 to tie for 100th, Tapscott’s 321 tied him for 108th and Jones was 120th with a 340.

Let’s do the math.

Over 250 other teams weren’t even playing last week. The Scots played 72 holes of competition golf over the span of four days. Prior to that, they played 36 holes in two practice rounds in two days while making notes of the course layout and club selection.

That’s a lot of golf to handle – both physically and mentally – for anyone not on the PGA Tour. The Scots also had to contend with a distraction even the professionals don’t have to deal with – final exams.

What? Did we forget to mention, it was also finals week back at Monmouth?

“The guys had to take the majority of their finals over the span of three days before we left for Florida,” said Ragone. “The faculty and staff did a great job of helping our kids get their finals in. One guy had to take a final while we were down there. It was quite a roller coaster over the last two or three weeks, but it was a great experience they will never forget.”

Ragone also performed a feat no other coach at Monmouth has experienced – two national tournament appearances in the same academic year. The ninth-year golf coach also serves as the offensive line and special teams coach for the football team. You may recall the gridiron gang won a conference title and made it to the second round of the NCAA football playoffs last fall.

“It was quite a year,” said Ragone of his dual duties. “We went two-deep in the football playoffs and then made the final round in golf. It was a pretty good year. We want to do even better in both sports next year.”

That’s a lofty goal, but Ragone thinks it could happen. He figures if the golf team can average 305 next season, a return trip to the National Championships is doable, but it won’t be in Florida.

“I believe the 2010 site is set for Hershey, Pennsylvania,” said Ragone.

Sweet.

IT’S ALL ABOUT QUALITY…AND NEAR-MISSES

Monmouth may only have four athletes in this week’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Marietta College in Marietta, Ohio, but three of the Fighting Scots are ranked in the top five in their events and one has the nation’s best mark.

Seniors Tanesha Hughes (Peoria, Ill./Woodruff) and Shannon Turczyn (Peru, Ill./LaSalle-Peru), junior Gloria Lehr (Knoxville, Ill./Knoxville) and sophomore Logan Hohl (Orion, Ill./Orion) will lead a small, but talented group to the meet which runs today through Saturday.

“It’s not going to be 20 qualifiers for us every year,” said coach Roger Haynes. “As coaches, any time you can put kids in the national meet, the season has been a success.”

Entering the meet, it appears Hughes may have the best chance at a national title. The throws specialist qualified in two events (discus and shot put) and is the top-ranked thrower entering Friday’s discus competition. She automatically qualified for the national meet with a throw of 164’5” at the Augustana Invitational in April. Making her third national appearance in the discus, Hughes is hoping to reach All-American status for the first time.

“Tanesha has been very consistent with the rest of the field,” said Haynes. “She threw over 161 feet at the conference meet under poor weather conditions. She can throw over 160 again, but the conditions would have to be right. She has great fundamentals in all her throws and has been very consistent with throws in the 150s which will benefit her this weekend.”

Hughes’ closest competitor in the discus – UW-Oshkosh’s Ellie Sitek – is more than four feet back of Hughes’ best throw and only one other competitor is within 10 feet. Hughes’ provisional mark in the shot put of 44’5-1/2” has her ranked 11th for Saturday’s event, just a little more than four feet behind the leader, Monique Riddick of Montclair State.

Lehr, an indoor qualifier in the shot put, is making her first outdoor appearance in the discus. Her season-best discus throw of 143’2” has her ranked 16th.

“The discus is probably not her favorite event,” reported Haynes of Lehr. “She has made great progress this season with her fundamentals. This will be a good learning experience for her and that will benefit her next year.”

Turczyn – a four-time All-American – clocked an automatic qualifying time of 14.29 in the 100-meter hurdles at the Midwest Conference Championships and is ranked fifth heading into Friday’s prelims. She is less than a half-second back of the nation’s top time of Simpson College’s Lauren Bucklin.

“She should be well-rested for this weekend,” reported Haynes. “She’s always dropped her times at the national meet and I’m confident she’ll be able to do that again. The second half of the race has always been her strong point, but it’s a very talented field.”

Hohl, the lone men’s representative, automatically qualified for the 400-meter hurdles after clocking a 52.56 at the regular season-ending Gregory Invitational at North Central College last Friday. A two-time All-American indoors and a four-time qualifier in two events indoors, Hohl has the third-best time in the nation, just three-tenths back of the leader, Todd Wildman of Trinity University (Texas). Hohl will be the first Fighting Scot to compete, as the prelims of the 400 hurdles are set for this afternoon.

“He ran a very nice race Friday night with damp, wet conditions,” said Haynes. “He handled the conditions very well and moved himself into a very elite group. He was very good through the last three hurdles and the last 100 meters. He’s a very efficient hurdler and I think he can repeat that performance.”

As talented as the Scots’ representatives at the national meet are, just as impressive is the list of athletes that had provisional performances but fell short of qualifying for the trip.

Sophomores Mary Kate Beyer and Tyler Hannam came as close as possible without making the national field. Beyer’s 10:56.60 in the steeplechase missed the cut by just over two seconds and Hannam was just a quarter inch from advancing in the high jump. Sophomores Kyle Prout and Saidu Sesay, freshman Shane Reschke and senior Aaron Daverin formed the men’s 4x100 relay team that was two-tenths from qualifying for the national meet. Other near-misses came from Dan Higgins in the javelin (just over five feet), Sam Cokinos in the shot put (less than two feet), Megan McKenna in the pole vault (five inches) and Lehr in two events – the shot put (one foot) and hammer throw (10 feet). Peyton Lumzy was another who was close, but his season-best in the discus was just a foot from the provisional standard.

“We’re pleased with what we have this year, but we’re also pleased with the young ones we have coming back next year,” said Haynes. “We have a very talented returning group that should be able to build on this year’s experience.”

That returning experience just might include an All-American or two.

PLAYING HARDBALL…AND QUITE WELL

A flurry at the finish by the baseball team earned the Fighting Scots two of the Midwest Conference’s top awards.

Head coach Roger Sander earned his league-record ninth South Division Coach of the Year award and Robbie Hinkle (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) was named the division’s Pitcher of the Year. The Scots won their 31st division crown this season after downing Grinnell in a one-game playoff to break a regular season-ending tie. Sander has compiled a 288-246-1 mark in 16 years at the helm.

Hinkle, a sophomore right-hander, compiled a 5-1 record after pitching just 3.1 innings as a freshman. He threw three complete game shutouts and recorded a team-best 2.89 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Hinkle held opponents to a .230 batting average and set the Monmouth consecutive scoreless innings record, tossing 31.1 straight innings without allowing a run.

Seven other Scots joined Hinkle on the All-Midwest Conference team. Senior Matt Bourne (Bloomington, Ill./Central Catholic), sophomore Billy Herrin (Galesburg, Ill./Galesburg) and freshmen Chad Kamm (Metamora, Ill./Metamora) and Caleb Ruyle (Jacksonville, Ill./Routt) were named to the first team. Senior Kevin Sashko (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein), junior Tom Shaver (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) and freshman Terry Davis (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington) were named to the second team.

Bourne, a left-handed pitcher, came on strong in his final campaign to earn his first all-league honors. He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.34 ERA. His 64.2 innings pitched led the team in that category and his 39 strikeouts was second.

The fleet-footed Herrin earned his second all-conference honor as an outfielder. He led the team with 13 steals and his .341 average was fourth-best for the Scots.

Kamm slugged his way to a team-best .441 average in his inaugural season. The first baseman’s average is the highest for a Monmouth freshman since Jason Salmon hit .455 in 2003. The converted third baseman, who played in all 33 games, also led the team with 33 runs scored and his .992 fielding average was the highest among regular position players.

Ruyle earned his all-conference honor as the Scots’ regular third baseman. He hit .333 in 29 games and was in the top five in six offensive categories.

A steady performer throughout his career, Sashko earned his first all-conference selection in his final year. The shortstop’s .311 average was just below his career-best .333 as a sophomore. He tied for the team lead with five home runs and his 27 RBIs were second on the team.

Shaver, a second baseman, made the most of his .215 average. The consummate team player, he tied for the team lead with eight sacrifice bunts and was fifth with 18 runs scored.

Davis split time between right and left field, but was still among the team leaders with a .952 fielding percentage. He led the team with five homers and 38 RBIs. Davis was second on the team with 30 runs scored and his .362 average and .559 slugging percentage were both the third-best marks for the Scots.

The Scots rebounded from a 2-8 start and ran to a 14-9 record after March 21. Monmouth won their eighth MWC South Division crown in nine years and have made 10 straight appearances at the conference postseason tournament. 

THE WEEK AHEAD

Thurs., May 21
Track & Field – at NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, Marietta, Ohio
Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles Prelims – Logan Hohl, 4:00 pm (CDT)

Fri., May 22
Track & Field – at NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, Marietta, Ohio
Women’s Discus – Tanesha Hughes, Gloria Lehr, 12:30 pm (CDT)
Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles Prelims – Shannon Turczyn, 2:20 pm (CDT) 

Sat., May 23
Track & Field – at NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, Marietta, Ohio
Women’s 100-Meter Hurdle Finals, 12:55 pm (CDT)
Women’s Shot Put – Tanesha Hughes, 1:30 pm (CDT)
Men’s 400-Meter Hurdle Finals, 2:15 pm (CDT)

 SCOTSIVATIONAL

“The best part of memories is making them.” -  Dave Ragone