Men's Golf tees up another conference title
MSOE Raiders held on to their first day lead and finished five strokes ahead of Benedictine and was crowned the Northern Athletics Conference champions for the second straight year. MSOE won the event with a two-day score of 617, followed by Benedictine (622) and Aurora (642).
Sophomore Peter Eich (Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville H.S.) was low score for the Raiders, shooting 150 in the two-day, 36-hole tournament, held at Whistling Straights Country Club in Kohler, Wis. Eich tied with low score for the tournament, but lost in a playoff to R.J. Schwalbach of Benedictine University who was the medalist in the event.
MSOE had outstanding performances by senior Jon Syvertson (Randolph, Wis./Randolph) and freshman Dane Zachman (Wauwatosa, Wis./Wauwatosa West) as both golfers shot 154 at the event, finishing tied for fourth place overall. Junior Sam Meyers (Mequon, Wis./Homestead) placed tenth (159), while freshman Matt Brandenburg (Cedarburg, Wis./Cedarburg) placed 26th (171) among the 45 golfers participating in the NAC championship.
The Dean of Men's Golf, Joe Meloy was named Co-Coach of the year by his peers. He also received the award in 2007.
With the addition of an automatic qualifier going to the conference, the men's golf team must win the conference tournament this spring to participate in the 2008-09 NCAA golf championships. The team also won the Lawrence Invite early in the season.
MEN'S GOLF PREVIEW 2008
Winning isn't easy for any team, but it is easier when you know how to win. Coach Joe Meloy and the men's golf team know just how to do that, as they surprised opponents by winning the Northern Athletics Conference Championship in their first year of competition in the league. This title goes on the mantle with the ten others "the Dean of Golf "Coach Meloy has won.
For 2008, it will be hard to sneak past anyone as they try to hold on to their conference crown. Meloy returns all but one player from last year's team.
Underclassmen solidify the lineup for the Raiders. Sophomores Sam Meyers (Mequon, Wis. / Homestead) and Peter Eich (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville), had a major impact on the team's performance last year. Meyers finished second at the conference championship, while Eich was a consistent scorer for MSOE and played a part in the Raiders winning the title.
Seniors Josh Fenske (Verona, Wis. / Verona), Erik Macias Simeon ( ), and Jon Syvertson (Randolph, Wis. / Randolph), have scored among the top five on the team during the season and will be counted on again as they face the NAC competition in 2008-2009. Junior Jon Holzbauer (Monemonee Falls, Wis. / Pius XI) is another key returner Coach Meloy counts on for stability and depth in the lineup.
Freshman Matt Brandenberg, Austin Heide, Max Martin, and Dane Zachman join the veterans in the search for their second consecutive title. Watch for freshmen to vie for starting varsity time this season.
This season, the Raiders will need to have a great fall and spring season if they look to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. The NAC receives an automatic bid for the NCAA tournament this year as MSOE has their eyes set on the prize.
The fall season begins with the Marian Invite on September 6 and cumulates with the NAC championships on October 13, held at the Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler, Wisconsin.
