Golf team rallies in round two

Garett McCollough | Sports Editor Three weeks ago Pitt State golf coach Todd Loveland said he hadn’t figured out why the golf team tends to struggle on day two. But it seems that he may have found the recipe for second day success, as the Gorillas moved from ninth place to seventh on the second day of the Lindenwood Invitation on Oct. 1-2. “Coach Loveland set a goal for us to reach as a team and we met that goal,” Brett Dowell said. “He gave us some extra motivation before the round. We also played smart on the course, so we can eliminate the high numbers.” This was a different approach for the PSU golf…

Gorilla golfers headed in right direction

Garett McCoullough | Sports Editor The ninth-place tie at the Northeastern State Invitational may not be exactly where the PSU golf team wants to be, but for senior Fletcher Harder and the Gorillas, it is far ahead of where they were the last few seasons. Harder says he wasn’t necessarily pleased or displeased with the overall performance in the two-day tournament Sept. 24-25, but he does think that the team is taking the right steps as the mid-year break approaches. “I think we are closer to where we want to be as a team,” Harder said. That probably has something to do with the coaching change. PSU hired Todd Loveland to lead the golf team…

Gorillas’ chances sunk on day two

Garett McCullough | Sports Editor Winning the Pittsburg State Invitational may have been a slightly unattainable goal for the PSU golf team, especially while they are rebuilding. However, in this highly competitive sports world, mediocrity isn’t acceptable. Unfortunately, a poor second day dropped the Gorillas to ninth place out of 12 teams. Sophomore Justice Valdivia led the team with a first round 71, and the Gorillas were sitting in fourth place, seven strokes behind after one day. Valdivia’s round one score had the Gorillas in contention, and put him tied for first individually with Missouri Southern’s Andrew Maier. Head coach Todd Loveland says this has been a theme for the Gorillas so far this season….

New coach helps inspire golf team

Garett McCullough |Sports Editor The Pittsburg State University golf team has long been an afterthought in the minds of PSU fans, but Fletcher Harder believes this is the year the team takes a leap forward, beginning with the Missouri Intercollegiate Championship on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Senior Harder came into the season after watching the entire 2011-2012 season from behind the ropes with a knee injury. The knee may have kept him off the course, but he is back and ready to help his team compete. Harder’s determination is aided by the new head coach, Todd Loveland. Loveland’s full focus is on golf, compared to the previous coach, Matt Brock, who also was an assistant basketball…