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Golfers in great position to
challenge for MWC title
Release Date: March 15, 2006
MONMOUTH, Ill. — Since 2006 is an
“even” year, consider the Monmouth College men’s golf team as the
“even money” favorite to win the Midwest Conference championship.
Coach Dave Ragone has led the Fighting Scots to MWC titles in 2002
and 2004, and he calls his current team “talented, deep and
experienced.” Its goal is to top defending champion Lawrence and
2003 winner Knox and win the conference crown.
That talent has already been seen in returning All-MWC junior Lee
Radford, and it was also on display during the Fighting Scots’
spring break trip to the Lake of the Ozarks. Freshman Jake Kilberg
(Rock Falls) posted a round of 70 that would have been even lower
without a two-stroke penalty, and junior Justin Martin had a 71.
Martin has been the No. 1 golfer so far, and he figures to be joined
by Radford, senior Jeff Malek and juniors Nick Harwick and Doug
Middendorf as the five Fighting Scots who travel to Forsyth, Ill.,
for a season-opening two-day tournament hosted by Millikin
University.
“The lineup’s set right now because of the weather,” Ragone
explained. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to be able to get out
and have any team competition in practice the rest of the week. But
down the road we’ll definitely have some competition for the five
varsity spots.”
The depth that Ragone refers to includes four golfers who “are right
on their heels” – Kilberg, junior Jeff Denny, senior Mike Wilmoth
and another newcomer to the team, junior Ian Wallace. Rounding out
the team are junior Josh Pinney, sophomores Erik Hoffer and Joel
Johnson and freshman Greg Jones (Roseville) and Ryan Powers (Pekin).
In terms of experience, only Matt Hawkins graduated from the group
of six players who represented Monmouth at the MWC Championships.
Malek, Radford and Denny were also part of the 2004 championship
group, and Malek has been in the top six for three straight years.
“A lot of our guys have a lot of collegiate rounds under the belts,”
said Ragone, who hopes his team will shoot in the 310-to-315 range
all season, if not better.
The Fighting Scots could have several different players shoot the
best round of the day at their nine scheduled events, and those
golfers will post those scores in different ways. For example,
Ragone said that Harwick and Middendorf are big drivers who can
really shoot low if they develop consistency, and he called Martin
the team’s top putter. “Easy Lee” Radford is the team’s steady
player, and Ragone said he possesses the demeanor of recent MC
standout Chad Scott.
Leading up to the conference meet, Ragone points to the Illinois
Wesleyan Invitational on April 21-22 as a highlight, as well as home
meets at Gibson Woods on April 15 and April 29.
Although Ragone called the three favorites in the MWC the “same old,
same old,” there will be a new twist to the conference meet in each
of the next two seasons. This year, it is expanding to a three-day,
54-hole event, and next year, the champion will receive an automatic
berth in the NCAA tournament.
“Our conference is being proactive and starting the 54-hole format –
which the NCAA recommends – one year early,” said Ragone. “In this
format, I think you’ll really see the cream rise to the top.”
Last year, Monmouth had the first-day lead before slipping to third,
eight strokes behind Lawrence and six back of Knox.
With a top nine that includes only two seniors, Ragone is optimistic
about making a run at an NCAA berth in 2007.
“The strength of our team is our junior class,” he concluded. “It
looks promising for the future, but it’s also promising right now.”
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