The Lipscomb men’s golf team is on par to succeed now and in the future. Changes in recruiting and in the offseason have sparked an early tournament victory.
Most recently, the Bisons won the Murray St. Invitational after going into a two-hole playoff. In the playoff, Alabama St. shot two over par and the Bisons shot right on par.
Dustin Wilder, senior and co-captain, said that even though the penalty was assessed, the team still was confident of their ability to win.
“Once we found out we were going to go to a playoff, I think we were pretty confident and pretty calm,” Wilder said.
He said that while the team played well, it’s important to be patient and stay focused.
“It’s easy for us to be really hyped and excited coming off a win, but not everyday is going to be a good day on the course,” Wilder said. “When we aren’t playing our best, I think it’s important to remember to stay focused and to stay patient and know that we’re capable of playing well.”
In only his second year as head coach, Will Brewer has made a special effort at recruiting players that are ready to compete and win. The five freshman–one redshirt–and one transfer student have already made an impact this season, as they came to school prepared to play.
“I think the upperclass realize that we’ve been very intentional about our recruits, and when they come in, they’ve come in ready and compete; they really have a strong desire to win,” Brewer said.
Upperclassmen certainly have noticed the freshmen’s talent, as Wilder noticed.
“The freshmen that coach has brought in this year are really talented. It’s definitely been a change from what we’ve had in the past. The competition within the team wasn’t at a very high level, and this year has been a lot different and a lot better, honestly,” Wilder said.
Dowling Armstrong, the first recruit of the five freshmen, said that there is pressure on him to compete with the rest of the team.
“There’s definitely a lot of pressure coming in and having to compete against upperclassmen and trying to get a spot on the traveling team,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong, a Valdosta, Ga. native, played golf for Lipscomb Academy during his time as a student.
While the tournament win gave the Bisons confidence as they move forward in the season, and the new recruits certainly help the team. Coach Brewer believes that there are still many aspects of the team’s play that need improving.
“We’re working on weaknesses; I have statistics that tell us where our weaknesses are, and we’ve identified those,” Brewer said.
One of the weaknesses that is being addressed is the short game. Last month, the golf team received a new home for practice. “The Frosty,” nicknamed after the George Robert Frost Short Game Practice Area, is the recently unveiled short-game facility intended to help the Bisons take a step forward.
“Before we came here we really didn’t have a home course, and we didn’t have a two-acre short-game facility that can prepare us,” Brewer said.
In regards to the future of this golf season and even into the future, Brewer’s emphasis was on preparation.
“I’m trying to get them to understand that they play in tournament like [they] practice and the way they prepare during the week.”
One of the ways Coach Brewer has also helped the team is by scheduling the tournaments this season all two weeks apart. Two weeks gives the players a “down week” and then a week of hard practice before a match.
The team has made many moves to tee themselves up for success, and Coach Brewer is looking forward to what can be accomplished.
“We’re not what we were, [and] even though we’re proud of our history, we’re going in a stronger, more intentional direction.”