The bad news for Monmouth College golf coach Dave Ragone is that
four members of his five-man team that competed at this spring’s
NCAA Division III meet have graduated. That quartet helped the
Fighting Scots place 28th in the nation.
The good news is that several strong players are waiting in the
wings, including a trio of recent high school graduates who make up
a solid recruiting class for the veteran coach.
"We added some good players this year," said Ragone, who led the
Scots to their third Midwest Conference title in his seven years as
head coach. "I’m excited about the quality we have coming in. They
will be a great addition to the depth we already have."
Two players with a stroke average of around 77 lead the way
Plano’s
Rodney Clayton and Joe Hoffman of Blue Valley Northwest High School
in Overland Park, Kansas. Clayton qualified for the Class A state
meet last fall, carding a 77 at Gibson Woods, which will be his new
home course. He bettered that score at a practice round there this
spring with his future teammates, shooting 75.
"He’s going to be a good, consistent player for us," said Ragone.
"He plays a lot of summer tournaments and is a very experienced
golfer."
Hoffman qualified for state in the largest class in Kansas, and
Ragone said the talented golfer must be sold on Monmouth after
coming away with a favorable impression of campus despite visiting
on one of the worst weather days of the past year.
"He and his parents drove six hours through snow and sleet, but
that didn’t discourage them," said Ragone. "Joe’s a big, tall,
strong player, and he’s shown throughout his high school career that
he’s a great competitor."
Rounding out the class is Joliet West’s Michael Freeburg, who
sports a 79 average. "He’s a nice solid, player," said Ragone of the
left-handed swinger.
Clayton plans to study pre-engineering, Hoffman will major in
business and communication and Freeburg will study history and
education.
Men's Golf
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