Story and photo by Alan Babbitt
Heeding wise advice, the Hope College men's golf team embraced par as a driving force during the opening round of tournament play.
The approach paid off in a big way.
The Flying Dutchmen fired their lowest round of the sporing on a chilling Saturday afternoon, shooting a 296 at their home course Wuskowhan Players Club during the opening round of the MIAA's 54-hole NCAA Division III Championships qualifier.
Led by four rounds between 73 and 76, Hope seized a 19-stroke lead heading into the final two rounds on Tuesday-Wednesday, April 19-20, hosted by Calvin University. Trine University (315) is second in the four-team tournament and is followed by Calvin University (320) and Adrian College (325).
Pictured from left, co-medalists Jack Crawford and Will Robson
Head coach Scott Lokers said the Flying Dutchmen listened to guidance from former Hope national champion Josh Gibson, who's helped coach this spring.
"Josh said par is a good score right now. He said if we have five guys shoot even-par, that's going to be tough to beat," Lokers said. "That stuck in my head. We talked this morning as a team that we don't need to do anything heroic. Par is a good score. They played well."
The Flying Dutchmen, who finished runner-up to Calvin in the MIAA fall standings, carded par par of 54 of 90 holes on the 6,977-yard Wuskowhan Players Club.
Co-medalist Will Robson shot a 2-over-par 73 by tying for the tournament lead with 14 pars. The sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS) shared the top spot with teammate Jack Crawford, a junior.
Crawford (Carmel, Indiana / Carmel) tied for the second-most pars with 12.
Logan DeWitt finished one stroke behind Crawford and Robson. The sophomore from Zeeland, Michigan (Holland Christian) totaled eight pars but also a tournament-high four birdies.
Crawford, DeWitt, and Robson each went 1-over par on par 4s during their rounds.
Freshman Ben Jackson (Fort Wayne, Indiana / Carroll) tied for fifth and capped Hope's team total for the day with a 76 that included 11 pars.
The Flying Dutchmen also received an 83 from freshman Jack Guerrera (Northville, Michigan / Detroit Catholic Central), who carded nine pars.
"I'm really happy for these guys," Lokers said. "Quite honestly, we haven't played really well in the spring until today. It's not for lack of effort. To see them put together our round as a team is really satisfying and fun.
"But it's one round of three. We talked yesterday that this is a 54-hole tournament; that is a long stretch for us. When things are good really good, don't get too high. When things are going bad don't get too low."
Play resumes at Stonewater Country Club in Caledonia on Tuesday at 1 p.m. Wednesday's final round tees off at 10 a.m.
