2008 Woodie Awards
New fresh faces on the golf course
Zachary Groves
Issue date: 9/18/07 Section: Sports
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The Cougars held tryouts last Monday and Head Coach Kyle Viehl picked two players out of the eight who tried out to play on the college links. Viehl will add junior college transfer Nate Sanders, who earned high rankings while playing for Rend Lake College, and Aaron Hogan, a freshman.
Viehl said the two golfers will add experience as well as depth to a currently-shorthanded squad.
"Last year he played No. 1 at Rend Lake, so I look for him to be an immediate impact on the team," Viehl said of Sanders.
Junior Tyler Link said he competed with Sanders during his Springfield College days and knows what he can bring to the course.
"Last year, we went to nationals together and he performed well," Link said. "He's got a good mental game for it. He's going to be one of the best players on the team."
Hogan looks to gain experience more than anything else, according to Viehl.
"With some work, he can definitely add to our team and make our team a lot deeper," Viehl said.
Sophomore Matt Lehl, however, said Hogan brings good composure to the game.
"I think right now he's a solid player," Lehl said. "I played with him a couple days ago and I just liked the way he kind of handled himself."
Sanders comes from a Rend Lake program that is well-known for sending golfers to SIUE. Viehl said he could not believe a player of Sanders' caliber was trying out to play for a college team.
"I asked Nate what brought him to SIU and normally if you're one of top players, they are picked up by some colleges," Viehl said. "And Nate just came to SIU on his own and decided he was going to try out as a walk-in on the team which surprised me but he likes what the ... program had."
SIUE competed in the Cougar Classic Sunday and Monday with six of the eight players available. Viehl said freshman David Wilson was out with an illness and junior Adam Grandidier sat out with an injury.
Meanwhile, Sanders and Hogan still have to wait to be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, which grants access to either Division I or Division II sports depending on academic and athletic eligibility. Barring any setbacks, the Cougars look forward to seeing them in the team's red polos.
"I'm excited to play with these guys and see what they can do," Link said.
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