2023-24 Men's Golf Season Preview

The Hope College men's golf team is bringing a talented and tested roster to the course this year.

The Flying Dutchmen return eight letterwinners from last season's MIAA champions, including six with NCAA Division III Championships experience during their careers.

Head coach Scott Lokers is excited about having so many veterans from three different years, including several with All-MIAA recognition on their resumes.

"We have a lot of depth again, I believe," Lokers said. "It really seems to be a nice mix of talent across the board — all classes. I would expect them all to push each other to be better this year."

2023 Schedule

The Flying Dutchmen tee off for the first time this fall on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 7:45 a.m. Central near Chicago at the 36-hole, one-day Aurora University Invitational hosted at Aurora Country Club.

Hope then will golf at the 36-hole, two-day Carthage College Fall Classic on Monday-Tuesday, Sept. 11-12, at The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

A new format to determine an MIAA champion will feature four 18-hole jamborees in the fall and two more rounds in the spring. The lowest cumulative team score after 108 holes receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

The Flying Dutchmen wrap up fall play on Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 23-24, at the NCAA Division III Region V Showcase hosted by Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana.

2023 Roster

Hope's roster of nine golfers features two seniors, three juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.

Three are returning All-MIAA First Team selections: senior Will Robson of East Grand Rapids, Michigan (East Grand Rapids HS), sophomore Liam Casey and sophomore Patrick Michael.

Robson is a three-time All-MIAA honoree. Casey and Michael were first-time recipients.

All three helped the Flying Dutchmen win their 22nd MIAA regular-season title by 43 strokes after 108 holes, claimed the 54-hole MIAA Tournament championship by nine strokes and placed 22nd at nationals for the second consecutive season. It was Hope's 16th trip to the NCAA Championships.

Coaching Staff

Scott Lokers, sixth season

Coach's Outlook

"These young men have high goals. The success they have encountered the past few years is fueling their motivation to improve individually and as a team," Lokers said. "As an individual, it's easy to think about improving in terms of golf. As a team, we keep working at pulling in the same direction and supporting each other even when that's difficult. We only can get five guys in the starting lineup. We talk about how we prepare a team to move forward. The format for the MIAA is a little different with just four league matches this fall. Those are our priorities. We want to position ourselves well for the spring." — head coach Scott Lokers

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Players Mentioned

Liam Casey: Sophomore

Patrick Michael: Sophomore

Will Robson: Senior; Business

Players Mentioned

Liam Casey
: Sophomore

Patrick Michael
: Sophomore

Will Robson
: Senior; Business