As classes pick up pace, both the Northwestern men and women’s golf teams are busy with the kickoff of a new season.
The Lady Raiders shot their best score of the year as they traveled to Council Bluffs to play in the Lady Reiver Fall Classic on Aug. 4. As a team, they shot 340 for a second place finish out of eleven teams.
“They played very well,” says Coach Harold Hoftyzer. “I was very impressed with how the whole team played.”
The team also visited Blair, Neb., to compete in the Dana Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 5. They finished fourth out of eight with a group score of 348.
When asked what excites him the most about the coming season, Hoftyzer said, “We have great team chemistry. Golf is an individual sport, but all of us have to come together for a final score.”
The men’s team visited Buena Vista on Friday and shot 318, a mere 11 shots off first, to place sixth out of the 13 teams present.
“We played well,” said Coach Mark Bloemendaal, “but I think our expectations were that we would score lower because the weather was great. There were also a lot of difficult pin locations.”
Both teams placed in the Morningside Invitational on Tuesday, finishing third and fifth out of eight teams present. Senior Luke Vermeer shot an even-par 72 to place second overall.
“We’ve got a great leader in Luke,” said Bloemendaal, “and a good number of talented freshmen as well.”
The men’s team will host their first GPAC conference meet on Tuesday, Sept 15. The women travel to Sioux Falls for their conference meet.
