IU Club Golf sets sights on national championships

IU Club Golf is setting the bar high for several future competitions.

The team placed fifth in its first round of regional play last weekend in Auburn, Ind. The team plays in the National Collegiate Club Golf Association and will compete for a spot at nationals Nov. 5-6 in Pinehurst, N.C.

The club competed against five other Midwestern universities that they will face again at the second regional Oct. 15-16 at Purdue University. These teams include Dayton, Ohio State, Michigan, Western Michigan and Miami University. Scores will be averaged between the two regionals and the top three teams will proceed to
nationals.

Andrew Schroyer, president of club golf, said he hopes to keep the winning streak alive.

“We’ve made it every year,” Schroyer said. “We will have to play well in this next regional to get into that top three to go to Pinehurst.”

Schroyer said he is looking forward to the low-scoring competition in the Carolina region.

“They are really good teams that we would eventually like to beat in the club national championship,” he said. “Usually all of the Carolina teams do really well because they have year-round golf.”

Schroyer and fellow teammate Bob Kessler have been planning a local qualifier since June at the IU Golf Course for the National Collegiate Golf Championships. Nationals for that tournament will take place in Las Vegas in mid-November.

The qualifier is a two-man scramble event. Two men work as a team, playing the best ball out of two hits the entire round.

“We’ve been trying to persuade students to actually play in it because there is no downfall to trying it,” Schroyer said. “I know a lot of people like the scramble tournaments because it’s a lot more fun and you don’t have to play individually to do well.”

The scramble match is only one way the team has tried to inspire more participation from IU students.

Last week the club had a huge golf exposition for the students. Team members gave lessons and coordinated putting, pitching and chipping contests for all who were interested in learning the basics of golf.

“That, again, is a huge stepping stone for our club and the game of golf because if we hold those events, then more people on campus will figure the game of golf out,” Schroyer said. “That’s what our whole goal is — to teach people the game.”

The club continues to expand. Last year it consisted of six players. 20 players showed up for practice this year.

Social events are scheduled regularly so players can get to know one another and feel a sense of camaraderie. Both men and women are able to join the team and participate in tournaments. Tryouts are for those who wish to compete at the national level.

“Now that the game of golf is growing, I feel like more people are getting involved in other schools as well, and it’s really beginning to get more competitive every year,” Schroyer said.