2009 Fall Wrapup
Men's Golf places fourth at NAC ChampionshipsOn October 12-13, the MSOE Raiders, 2008 NAC champions and NCAA championship participants, could not retain their fall golf crown as the Aurora University men's golf team won their first Northern Athletics Conference championship at Whistling Straits Irish Course in Kohler. The Spartans won the title with a team score of 620, 44-over par. Edgewood, winner of the 2006 championship, finished second at 630 (311-319), Benedictine finished third at 59-over (312-323--635) and MSOE, winners of the previous two championships, finished fourth at 649 (321-328).
The Raiders were led by Dane Zachman, shooting a two-day 154 total, good enough for 4th place and all NAC honors. Four Raiders placed in the top twenty at the championship. Zachman was followed by teammates Peter Eich (place, score) (13-t, 162), Elias Macias Simeon and Sam Meyers tied at 18t with a 167 score. The Raiders still have a chance to make the NCAA tournament as the conference tournament qualifier is in the spring of 2010.
The MSOE men's golf team had a banner season in 2008-09 as they won the Northern Athletics Conference title and received the automatic Qualifier to the NCAA men's golf championships. The Raiders were one stroke of making the cut for the final rounds of the tournament.
In 2009, the team has an uphill battle as they will have to replace three starters from last year's squad. Looking to lead the way for the Raiders will be a trio of talent in Dane Zachman (Wauwatosa, Ill. / Tosa West), Peter Eich (Libertyville, Ill. / Libertyville) and Sam Meyers (Mequon, Wis. / Homestead). On any given day, one of these three players could step up to the tee and lead MSOE in a tournament.
Also looking to keep the score low for the Raiders is Elias Macias (Mexico City, Mexico / Westminster). As a freshman, Macias played well for the Raiders last year, scoring in some of the major events on the season.
Juniors Ray Larsen (Carol Stream, Ill. / Glenbard North) and Ben Turk (Minooka, Ill. / Minooka)will compete for the final scoring position for the Raiders.
The Raiders have a target in their back as being the first NAC program to compete at the NCAA men's golf championships. At the end of last year's season, Benedictine University and Edgewood College were hot on the Raider's trail come conference tournament time. Look for the three schools to battle for the NAC title in 2009-2010.
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.
