NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. – This weekend the Westminster Men’s Golf Team wrapped up their first tournament of the season. They participated in the University of Olivet’s Lou Collins Memorial Tournament, held August 29–30 at the Bedford Valley Country Club in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Westminster junior Tyler Hager set the tone early, shooting a 73 through 18 holes on the first day of the tournament. That score, good for +1 on the day, firmly placed him at the top of the leaderboard. Reflecting on his performance, Hager said, “It was the first tournament of the year so I didn’t know what to expect. I was playing well going into the event, so I had high standards for myself and for the team.”
The tournament was significant not only as the season opener, but also as a debit for the new roster. Hager noted that, “We had a lot of new starters, so I didn’t know what to expect”.
There were many factors throughout the weekend that impacted golfers’ approaches during the tournament: course layout, wind, rain, and even some season opener nerves. When asked which elements impacted his play throughout the tournament, Hager noted that, “I had played the course a couple times before. It’s a fine course with a good shape. The greens are naturally a little tougher because they’re inconsistent and spongy, which is difficult to put on.”
Tyler made sure to finish the tournament strong, tying for 5th place overall. He credited his success to consistency off the tee and strong recovery shots: “Hitting the ball well off the tee, and my recovery shots were great when I didn’t hit it perfectly.” His resilience helped secure a solid finish to start the season.
The next match for the Men’s Golf Team is on Monday, September 8th, at Latrobe, Pa. We wish the team the best of luck and for a successful golf season!
