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2003 Season Outlook The Cedarville University golf program enters the 2003 campaign with optimism and excitement as the team returns five players from last year’s squad. Coach Ryan Bowen, in his second year at the helm of the Yellow Jackets, will look to a pair of seniors for leadership and consistency on the course. Bowen, who has experienced tournament golf as a competitor on the collegiate level, attempts to translate his philosophy to his players as a mentor. “We’ll again be concentrating on consistency which is something any golfer has to be disciplined at,” he said. “It is so easy when not playing well to give up mentally on the course and post a bad score. We will be working on the mental toughness issue - to be able to turn a potentially high score into a score the team can use.” Craig Bennington, a 6-3 senior from Massillon, OH, returns to the #1 position in the lineup after posting the finest spring season of his career last year as a junior. The four-year player held down the #2 position his first two seasons with the Yellow Jackets but moved up to the #1 slot last year. His 77.8 strokes per 18 holes tied for the 8th-lowest mark in school history. Bennington placed fourth in the American Mideast Conference championships with rounds of 78-75-73 and earned a berth on the All-AMC Team. The other senior on the roster is Tom Simon. The three-year letter winner has played in every match of his Yellow Jacket career and shot a career-best 74 at the Central State University Invitational last spring. Simon finished the year with a 81.2 average for 18 holes and was named an NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete.
Jonathan Brust, a junior from Arlington Heights, IL, returns for his second season with the Yellow Jackets after transferring from Augustana College in Illinois. Brust played in every match as a sophomore and carded a 84.5 average for 18 holes. He finished 36th at the American Mideast Conference championship with three rounds of 84. Junior Jeff Beckley will look for more action after playing in the Shawnee State and Central State Invitationals last spring. The lone sophomore on the team is Ben Foreman. The second-year performer from Hilliard, OH, played in every match of his rookie campaign and finished with a second-best average of 80.5. Foreman will look to continue his improvement and make a significant contribution in 2003 as he is now familiar with all the courses that will be played this coming season. Two freshmen will seek to gain experience as they adjust to the collegiate level. Aaron McDivitt, from Montour Falls, NY, joins the Yellow Jackets after a notable career at Twin Tiers Baptist. Dave Parmerlee, from Grand Rapids, MI, begins his Cedarville experience after a three-sport high school career. “We will have the potential, when everyone plays well, to be competitive in the AMC. A little improvement by each player will put us in good standing,” noted Coach Bowen. And while Bowen strives to see success on the course, his goals go one step further. “I want the players to improve their golf, but I want them to grow spiritually as well,” he explained. “Golf is a game they can play for the rest of their lives. It is something that can be played to glorify Jesus Christ and be used as a ministry.” The schedule includes one 18-hole tournament, five 36-hole invitationals, and the season concludes with the 54-hole AMC Championship. The 22nd Annual Cedarville Invitational will again utilize the Beavercreek Golf Club on opening day with the final round staged at the prestigious Country Club of the North. | |||||||||||||||
