Men’s golf needs growth

By Ryan Day | gargoyle@flagler.edu

Junior Kodi Merrell says technology may be the wave of the future for the Flagler men’s golf team next season.

“[We need] more money in the budget and equipment such as cameras and computer software to improve swing,” Merrell said.

“The golf program will need to grow into its new status as an NCAA Div. II competitor,” Jay Jennison, head coach of the men’s golf team, said. “At the present time, there are many demands on the financial resources of the college. Golf, as with other sports at Flagler, will have to wait until the resources are available to make serious advances in the rankings.”

During their fall season, advancements were hard to see as the team never placed higher than 12th in any of their six rounds, tying Div. I opponent Bryant University with 307 strokes in the first round of the prestigious MacDonald Cup at the Yale University Golf Course in New Haven, Conn.

To open the spring season in February, the team placed fifth out of 13 teams in the first round of the Titan Invitational in Melbourne, losing by only 10 strokes to first-place Brevard. In March, the team placed sixth out of 11 teams in the Panther Invitational in Viera, Fla.

By season’s end, the team was ranking between their fall and spring season, scratching out an eighth-place finish at the Buccaneer Invitational in Miami.

“We had a young team this year,” Jennison said. “Nevertheless, the improvements we have made to the program this year…will stand us in good stead as we look forward to next year. All of our existing players are returning. I am looking forward to the fall.”