Men’s Golf Team Faces Losses

Last year, the California State University Monterey Bay men’s golf team claimed the NCAA Championship title with a stunning putt by John Jackson on the 18th hole. With Jackson, as well as a majority of last year’s members now graduated, the team is left to start from square one.

Scott Yeakel, member of the 2010-11 golf team, said that the team’s win was “extremely exciting” but he was “not shocked at all.” The team had just come off their sixth straight win after scoring yet another title at Conference and went on to win Super Regional’s just a few short weeks later. These two wins led the team straight to a place they had never ventured before: the NCAA Championships. Yeakel thought back to the beginning of the season and said he “had no idea they would be National Champions just months later.” With the help of his teammates, they did claim the title and with much confidence. “We had almost gotten used to winning and probably would have been more shocked if we had lost,” said Yeakel.

Oskar Nystrom and DJ Miligan were both huge contributors to last year’s squad. Nystrom, originally from Sweden, moved back home after graduating and has now turned to professional golf. Miligan has taken a similar path and has also moved up to professional golf. With Nystrom, Miligan, and Yeakel all off the squad, and one member red shirting this season, coach Jason Owen is left to start over with a new squad. The question being asked is if the team will reach another NCAA Championship title.

According to Yeakel, coach Jason Owen “expects to have the individual and team trophy’s in the van upon departure.” With this no holds bar attitude, last year’s team was led to the finals and a championship win, but will it be enough to grab another title this year?

Colton Bollinger, member of this season’s golf team, believes they have all the chance in the world, but can never expect to just have the title handed to you. Bollinger and the rest of the team recognizes the loss their team faces with losing so many valuable players, but does not feel this is any kind of disadvantage. Bollinger went on to say, “The golf program at CSUMB will always consist of a variety of notably talented players who will grace the team for a period of time, but the dedication and hard work nputted into our golf program has no grace period or scheduled graduation date.”

This year’s team is taking that notable talent they saw so much of last year as a learning example. They have a lot of pressure following an NCAA win, but have all the knowledge in the world to follow the footsteps of last year’s squad.

With disadvantages now reshaped as great advantages, the team plans to emulate the same work ethic last year’s squad applied to their game. Bollinger believes that “whenever you practice, no matter the sport, your practice should have a goal.” From putting to chipping, every time Bollinger steps foot on the course, he has a goal. He continued, “Goals are what spark improvement...but effort and commitment are what ignite it. I feel the same goes for matches, we don’t go into a tournament without a goal or expectation. We plan to win, and if our efforts and commitments were great enough in preparation for the tournament...we most likely will.”

Although a majority of the CSUMB men’s golf team is brand new to the school, as well as each other, the passionate mentality of these players just might be able to drive them all the way to another title. As the season begins, the players seem to be very confident in their abilities.