2008 Woodie Awards
Rebuilding for Success
Men's golf team still looking for golfers
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 8/30/07 Section: Sports
SIUE men's golfers, who last year competed using a nine-man team with five seniors, will give area golfers a chance to audition to help fill remaining holes in this year's squad.
In SIUE Head Coach Kyle Viehl's eyes, with those seniors now out of the picture, the fall looks to be a rebuilding season.
"We are going to be very young and very inexperienced this year," Viehl said.
At least three players, senior Adam Grandidier and juniors Matt Lehl and Matt Muckensturm, are returning to help lead an otherwise young team. The Cougars can also expect junior transfer Tyler Link to keep the team's chances on par.
"He had a productive junior college career, so I would expect him to come in and be one of the top players," Viehl said of Link.
SIUE also welcomes four freshmen, including Arizona High School standout Neal McCarty.
"I see a lot of potential," Lehl said. "This is a young team, but very talented."
While the current Cougars prepare for their first tournament at the Indianapolis Invitational at the tail end of the Labor Day weekend Monday and Tuesday, potential walk-ons and perhaps impact golfers will look to spruce their game for tryouts the following week.
The tryouts take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, on the Woodlands Golf Course in Alton. Viehl said he may pick at least one hopeful to play for SIUE.
"There' s a lot of interest in all different levels," Viehl said of the possible competition to make the team. "When we get out there, we'll see."
According to Sports Information Director Eric Hess, there won't be a complete roster available until after the tryouts.
In any case, the Cougars have big shoes to fill after NCAA Division II Championship qualifier Kyle Lickenbrock left. Lickenbrock finished 27th at the national championship final in May.
Lehl, the team captain, is coming off a redshirt season. He said he has improved his swing during the off-season and is ready to show his opponents what it can do.
"I made my swing a little flatter, a little more rounded off," Lehl said.
Viehl said all he hopes for is that his team finds its rough spots early and cleans them up. He doesn't expect the Cougars to become champions right out of the gate.
"We're going to be young and our main goal is to make sure we improve as the season goes on," Viehl said.
Lehl said the team is young, but brings a lot of enthusiasm to the links.
"Whatever happens, happens," Lehl said. "But we're going to give it our best, that's for sure."
For more information on the tryouts, contact the Athletics Department at 650-3871.
In SIUE Head Coach Kyle Viehl's eyes, with those seniors now out of the picture, the fall looks to be a rebuilding season.
"We are going to be very young and very inexperienced this year," Viehl said.
At least three players, senior Adam Grandidier and juniors Matt Lehl and Matt Muckensturm, are returning to help lead an otherwise young team. The Cougars can also expect junior transfer Tyler Link to keep the team's chances on par.
"He had a productive junior college career, so I would expect him to come in and be one of the top players," Viehl said of Link.
SIUE also welcomes four freshmen, including Arizona High School standout Neal McCarty.
"I see a lot of potential," Lehl said. "This is a young team, but very talented."
While the current Cougars prepare for their first tournament at the Indianapolis Invitational at the tail end of the Labor Day weekend Monday and Tuesday, potential walk-ons and perhaps impact golfers will look to spruce their game for tryouts the following week.
The tryouts take place at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10, on the Woodlands Golf Course in Alton. Viehl said he may pick at least one hopeful to play for SIUE.
"There' s a lot of interest in all different levels," Viehl said of the possible competition to make the team. "When we get out there, we'll see."
According to Sports Information Director Eric Hess, there won't be a complete roster available until after the tryouts.
In any case, the Cougars have big shoes to fill after NCAA Division II Championship qualifier Kyle Lickenbrock left. Lickenbrock finished 27th at the national championship final in May.
Lehl, the team captain, is coming off a redshirt season. He said he has improved his swing during the off-season and is ready to show his opponents what it can do.
"I made my swing a little flatter, a little more rounded off," Lehl said.
Viehl said all he hopes for is that his team finds its rough spots early and cleans them up. He doesn't expect the Cougars to become champions right out of the gate.
"We're going to be young and our main goal is to make sure we improve as the season goes on," Viehl said.
Lehl said the team is young, but brings a lot of enthusiasm to the links.
"Whatever happens, happens," Lehl said. "But we're going to give it our best, that's for sure."
For more information on the tryouts, contact the Athletics Department at 650-3871.
Be the first to comment on this story