By Harrison Leone
Assistant Sports Editor
The golf team is back at the tee for the second half of its 2012-13 campaign. Next up for the Bonnies is a trip to Rocklidge, Fla. Feb. 28 to face Brevard Community College (BCC). The match will be the second sojourn to Florida this spring for the team.
Coach John Powers said BCC will offer the Bonnies stiff competition.
“They’re one of the best junior college programs in the nation,” Powers said. “Historically, they’ve always been very good. Plus they’re in mid-season form right now, so it’ll be a good matchup.”
The meet will give SBU an opportunity to regain their form after a nearly two-month break from competition. The team’s last match of the fall season came on Oct. 23 at the Old Dominion Invitational.
“It’s all about getting reps and tournament experience,” Powers said. “We spent the break doing indoor practices on nets and putting greens. Hitting balls into nets is important, even if it’s not very interesting.”
The BCC meet will also provide the Bonnies with an opportunity to set their lineups for the remainder of the season and see which players are hitting the ball well.
“Right now, any five guys have an opportunity to be on the lineup,” Powers said. “This meet will go a long way in showing us who wants play.”
St. Bonaventure is coming off of a 9th-place finish at the Bethune-Cookman Invitational held Feb. 17 and 18. The Bonnies shot a 105 over par in the tournament in the 12-team tournament. Florida Atlantic University came in first, besting host Bethune-Cookman by nine strokes, 30-39.
“We played a challenging course,” Powers said. “Especially considering we had been inside the gym for so long. Still, we felt like we could have beaten at least two more teams at the tournament.”
Senior Greg Horvath agreed that the team underperformed. Horvath shot 34 over par, good for 4th on the team and 43rd in the tournament.
“We underachieved, that’s for sure,” Horvath said. “We came off a strong fall season and obviously wanted to continue with that.”
The weather was uncooperative for the Bonnies. The Sunshine State did not live up to its name, as the teams contested with 30-degree weather and gusty conditions.
“The most difficult part was dealing with the elements,” Powers said. “Being a northern school, you’d think we’d be prepared for weather like that. But the wind can really expose your flaws.”
Horvath concurred the climate was difficult for the team to overcome.
“On the course, you really can’t escape the wind,” Powers said. “In such conditions, if you don’t know exactly where your shot’s going, it can take off on you.”
Freshman Josh Stauffer continued his strong inaugural campaign, leading the Brown and White with a 13 over par. Stauffer’s score earned him tied for 12th place in the field.
“As it’s been all year, he’s been the strongest guy on the team,” Horvath said of Stauffer. “He’s really been the most steady and consistent performer.”
Also on the course for the Bonnies were senior Brian McKenna and junior Scott Brady who shot 25 and 30 over par, respectively.
Coach Powers was optimistic about his team’s chances for the rest of the year. He thinks the team has the ability to complete what began as a promising season on a similar note.
