Ball State University Athletics
Golfers Finish 16th out of 17 Teams at Dr. Pepper Intercollegiate
March 06, 2002 | Men's Golf
The Cardinals will compete at the Johnny Owens Invitational Friday and Saturday in the 54-hole tournament. The schedule is set for 36 holes Friday and 18 holes Saturday. Friday will feature a shotgun format beginning at 8 a.m., while Saturday's final round will have designated tee times beginning at 8 a.m.
Following is a question and answer session with BSU head coach Mike Fleck.
How do you assess the team's progress through the fall season?: "We made a lot of progress. Our main focus was for everyone to improve each and every day and for the most part we were able to get that accomplished. As we progressed through the schedule, which was one of our toughest schedules in a while, we improved as we gained experience and got more tournament rounds under our belt. Our last two fall tournaments were a good indication of our progress because we were in a position to win heading into the last round both times. Playing the fall schedule we played will be helpful for this spring as we head toward the Mid-American Conference Championships."
Who would be some of the golfers to watch for this spring?: "We go into the spring with inexperience being a factor, so there will be a lot of opportunities for a lot of golfers to see action. Kenny Cook, who played No. 1 last fall, will be a big part of our team and will be counted on to help lead this team. Senior Bill Pollert is our most experienced player and we will rely on his abilities to also help lead this team. Juniors Dan Witt and Nathan Vannatter need to gain experience and improve for us to be competitive as we contend for a top spot in the conference. Seniors Jimmy Kostaroff, Brett Strbjak have played a lot of golf and now need to be competitive in tournaments. Sophomore Brian Lassiter and freshman Geoff Harriman will also see playing time this spring as we look for a total team effort in 2001."
What does Ball State need to do to be successful this spring?: "In order for us to be competitive we have to have a total team effort. We have to do a good job of mixing and matching scores each and every round and consistently play at a high level. Mental preparation will be a key for us this season. We need to go into each tournament with a good knowledge of the course, its setup, the weather conditions, the playing conditions and how we plan to play the course relative to each player's strengths. The schedule we play this spring is very competitive and I am excited because it will put us up against some of the best teams in the nation."
