Both men’s and women’s golf were busy the last couple of weeks, as they both competed in tournaments. Both teams have finished their last tournaments before they begin the MIAA Championship, polishing up their skills.
Starting on the men’s side, the Gorillas got off to a perfect start in March, as they placed first overall as a team in the Maverick Desert Classic. Pittsburg State finished +4 (-5/+9) with a tournament leading 3.15 average on par threes and 4.60 average on par fives. The Gorillas overall for the two-day tournament collected 112 pars, 27 birdies and two eagles while coming away with the second fewest bogeys (33) and doubles (6).
Senior Mason White finished the tournament at -2 (-1/-1) with an eagle on hole two and a pair of birdies on the back nine today to solidify his first-place win. Sophomore Tyler Hardtarfer finished in 11th after ending the weekend on par over 36 holes, going +3 today and -3 yesterday. Sophomore Jack Randall came in 15th at +2 (-1/+3) with a team-high five birdies today. Junior Keaton Thissen concluded the tournament tied for 25th at +4 (E/+4). Sophomore Cooper Forth finished 49th at +10 (+6/+4) and senior Theo Juhl, who competed as an individual, finished tied for 25th at +4 (+2/+2).
After the Maverick Desert Classic, Pitt State traveled down to Arkansas to compete in the Arkansas Collegiate, placing sixth overall in the competition. Playing at the Mystic Creek golf course, the Gorillas finished sixth at +92 as a team. Individually, Pitt State was led by Randall at +19 (15th), Hardtarfer at +21 (19th), White at +27 (36th), Thissen at +30 (49th) and freshman David Hobart at +32 (58th). Harding University claimed the team title at +35, a 32-stroke lead over Southern Arkansas. Dennis Staykov from Harding claimed the individual title at E (-2/+1/+1).
The Gorillas most recently hosted the Tommy Riggs Collegiate Invitational, placing fifth overall. In the 18-team tournament, the Gorillas ended the two-day, three-round tournament at +51 (+24/+13/+14). Thissen led all competitors for Pitt State with a 10th place finish at +10, White and Randall +14 finished tied for 22nd followed by Hardtarfer in 34th (+16) and Forth in 75th (+27).
On the women’s side, Pitt State competed in their Arkansas Collegiate, finishing tied for 7th at +83 as a team. Individually, junior Abby Ervin led the team in 24th (+16) followed by sophomore Kylee Hopper (+17) in 25th, junior Kymbree Larance (+22) in 32nd and freshman Charlotte Kerbs (+28) in 44th.
Following that performance, the Gorillas moved on to the UAFS Invite. The team placed tenth out of fourteen other schools. The Gorillas (+142) completed the day with Hopper (+27) in 21st, junior Genevieve Akers (+31) 32nd, Larance (+35) 44th, Ervin (+49) 60th and Kerbs (+55) in 67th.
The women’s team returns to action on April 20, when they compete in the MIAA Championship, hosted by Central Missouri. On the men’s side, the MIAA Championship will be held in Jefferson City, MO, on April 12.