Men’s golf heads to PBC tournament

By Kaitlyn Edwards | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The Flagler College men’s golf team is heading to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament in hopes of claiming a PBC title.

Head Coach Santiago Cananagh believes his team has the talent and potential to go far.

“The men’s program is going in the right direction and the team is getting stronger and stronger every year,” said Head Coach Santiago Cavanagh. “Our goal this year is to be prepared and go into each event to compete at our optimal playing level.”

Players such as Patrick Lamb, Joel Dahlenburg, Chris Bray, and Drew Pressentin are all standing out and shining this season.

“My goal as the coach is to go out and have yet another great performance and give it our all for our conference play,” Cavanagh said. “I think these players have a great chance to win every tournament they play in.”

Dahlenburg, a senior, believes he and his teammates are well prepared for the upcoming challege.

“We expect to go out to conference as the most prepared and use our great spring season to add to our confidence and play our best,” Dahlenburg said.

Peach Belt Conference contender Georgia College and State University is the men’s biggest rival, as they are ranked 2nd in the country.

Not only has the men’s team claimed three first place finishes, but some of the players have also received individual wins.

“With Pat Lamb and myself getting individual wins, it adds to the excitement of a team win,” Dahlenburg said.
“Winning was one of my goals this season and to accomplish that goal in the first event was not expected.
It was even better to share the win with the team, as it was our first win under the great coaching of Santiago Cavanagh,” Dahlenburg said.

Joel Dahlenburg won the first tournament in the spring season in Panama City shooting 72-69. Drew Pressentin also finished second in this same tournament carding a 68-75. Patrick Lamb pulled off a win in the previous tournament played in North Carolina. Lamb shot a pair of 70s and won in a play off.

“The biggest challenge was to keep on winning. We just kept building confidence and it showed in the tournaments we played,” Chris Bray said.

Cavanagh attributes his team’s success largely to team morale and motivation within its ranks.

“These top players became a team this year, and learned to respect and motivate each other which has contributed to better practice and shows when tournament time comes around,” Cavanagh said.

Drew Pressentin was voted MVP this year by his team.

“I expect to win the conference tournament,” Pressentin said. “We have been playing so well and I expect to keep on riding the high emotional wave we are all currently on.”

Pressentin believes that the men’s team is confident that the men’s team can compete at the highest level.

“My personal goal is to significantly help the team with every round that I play and my team goal is to make it to the Division II National Championship,” Pressentin said. “We are the best team in the PBC hands down.”

The men’s team will play in the PBC tournament in Pine Mountain, Ga. from April 12 to 13.