As the fall golf season kicks off, the NIC men’s golf team is ready to take on the challenge at their first event of the year in DuPont, Washington. The team is currently headed to The Bishop Invitational to showcase their talent and hard work.
After seven intense qualifying rounds, the top six boys have earned themselves a chance to compete in their opening tournament, which starts tomorrow. The qualifiers saw fierce competition, as players battled it out for a spot on the travel team. The team’s top 6 players—Florien Riedel, Mason Barningham, Dyson Lish, Noah Moody, Eli McNelly, and Charlie Ward—earned their spots on the travel team and will compete in the two-day, 54-hole event from September 26-27.
Among the team is freshman Charlie Ward, from Manchester, England. Ward battled adversity when he overcame a disappointing start to secure his place in the lineup. “The qualifiers were intense, but it feels great to make top six.” Ward said, “I was actually more nervous for them (the qualifiers) than I am for the tournament”. With Ward’s newfound confidence, he hopes to pull out a win this week.
The team has been putting in over 30 hours of training every week, alongside head coach, Russel Grove, trying to perfect every element of their games. Ward tributes his low scores to his standout iron play. At practice, he focuses specifically on technique and mechanics, fine-tuning his swing.
Beyond the individual preparations, the team works hard towards collective success. “It’s great fun both on and off the course,” Ward added. The boys play games against one another to push each other and themselves. Ward says these games help them “to improve as a team collectively”, and may just be their secret to success this week.
Today, the boys will play their practice round at The Home Course to prepare for tomorrow’s 36-hole marathon, followed by 18 more holes on the final day. This event marks the beginning of what looks to be a promising season for the NIC men’s golf team, and they’re eager to make a strong statement right from the start.
Keep an eye on the action as they aim to bring home a win and build momentum for the rest of the season.
