KCAC

[Golf] Golf hosts Kansas Wesleyan Spring Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at Salina Country Club

It took longer than they'd have liked, but the Kansas Wesleyan men's golf team is starting to gain its stride, and the timing couldn't be better. The Coyotes finished atop the team standings at the Kansas Conference's First Leg last weekend at Crestview Country Club in Wichita. KWU takes a 10-shot lead in the conference's Second Leg next month at Buffalo Dunes Golf Course in Garden City, but there are other matters to address before then, starting this week. Two Wesleyan men's teams and five other schools will compete in the Kansas Wesleyan Spring Invitational on Monday and Tuesday at Salina Country Club. The Coyotes will be joined by Oklahoma Panhandle State, York, William Penn, Central Christian and Haskell Indian Nations. The KWU women's team will compete against Oklahoma Panhandle State, York and Central Christian. Play begins at 9 a.m. each day. Coach Randy Syring liked what he saw in Wichita. "I feel better about things coming off of Crestview," he said. "Our first two tournaments we didn't really perform to our potential. We did better at Crestview and we had a really good practice week." Memories of last year's tournament are also a factor for the Coyotes. The men's team took a four-stroke lead into the second day, but faltered and finished second behind Park by one shot. KWU's Ben Hadden (SR/Shawnee Mission, Kan.) was the individual leader after the first 18 holes, but finished second with a 67-71—138 total, one shot behind William Penn's Zachary Chegwidden. "They're out to protect their home turf," Syring said. Hadden returns and will play on the A-Team with Coleman Houk (SR/Lawrence, Kan.), Troy Watson (JR/Coffeyville, Kan.), Logan Vacca (JR/Coffeyville, Kan.) and Sam Flinn (SR/Mankato, Kan.). Watson placed fifth (141) and Houk tied for 10th (145) a year ago. The B-Team will consist of Austin Odom (JR/Sanger, Texas), Pat Mercer, Evan Lambert (SO/Salina, Kan.), Trevor Millard (JR/Stinnett, Texas) and Zac Cepure (SO/Lincoln, Neb.). Jorden Winegeart (SO/Stinnett, Texas) and Cameron Becker (SO/Coffeyville, Kan.) will compete as individuals. The Wesleyan women won last year's three-team event, finishing 18 strokes ahead of runner-up Murray State. Palmer Bosanko, now a KWU assistant coach, was the individual champion. This week's team will consist of Kristen Sayyalinh (FR/Rockford, Ill.), MacKenzie Fabrizius (SR/Spring Hill, Kan.), Mikaela Johnson (JR/Salina, Kan.) and Chandler Birkholz (SO/Eureka, Kan.). Syring said the par 72 SCC course is in good shape. "It's not growing yet, but the fairways are good," he said. "The ball will be setting fairly tight because the Zoysia (grass) is still dormant. The greens are perfect." Last week's warmer weather was ideal for getting some meaningful practice. "It was nice to get everybody out there and get some good work in," Syring said. "It was our first good week of practice since the season started. This is the first time that we feel like we're ready going into it. "Of course, in golf you just go out and do your best on every shot and see what happens at the end, but I know that they would be disappointed in themselves if they didn't win their home tournament."