The Elizabethtown College men’s golf team is taking a swing at the 2014 season. The team has been preparing vigorously in the off-season to contend with the tough Middle Atlantic Conference teams it will be up against. Going up against top programs like York and Messiah Colleges, Etown feels it has the athletes it needs to compete in conference play.
The Blue Jays have gotten off to a bit of a rocky start. However, the season has just started, so there will be plenty of time to rebound. Tournament-wise, Etown has been staying in the middle of the pack when facing its opponents. Being a top competitor in these tournaments is just on the horizon for the Blue Jays.
Senior Zack Cook and junior Ryan Forbes are very excited for the Blue Jays’ future because the team is so young and hungry for victories. “I like where the team is heading thus far, and we have a young group of talented athletes so the future looks promising for our team,” Cook said. Cook just finished his last season with the team and said that he could not be happier with his time on the course. “Looking back at the years, I really enjoyed playing with the team and seeing the group of young players develop. I am very excited for the future of Blue Jays’ golf,” he said.
Etown just hired a new and enthusiastic head coach, Jim Reed, to steer the Blue Jays in the right direction for their 2014 season. The players seem to be happy with the new coaching staff and are ready to get back on the course and see where they stand in the conference. “Last year, a lot of golfers were facing injury. I myself had some back problems. However, we are all excited for what this season will bring,” Forbes said. He has had a strong career thus far for the Blue Jays since he is hitting the ball better than ever. Last season he played in five tournaments and hit a low of 94 (+22) in the 2012 season. This season, Forbes hit an 84 (+13) in the Messiah Falcon Fall Classic.
The Blue Jays will be kicking off their spring season at the Gettysburg Invitational on March 22. The Blue Jays have prepared during the off-season and are ready to get back on the course as soon as possible. Since some players are young, they have the potential to acquire great experience and poise in later years. “We can’t wait to get back on the course,” Forbes said. “The whole team is anxious and we are really excited to see what our young players can do on the course. I have a good feeling about this spring season.”
Junior Ryan Laudeman, who has been a key golfer for the Blue Jays in every tournament, will also be returning. In the Gettysburg Invitational in the fall, Laudeman shot a 73 (+1), which ranked him third overall in the tournament amongst all the golfers. He will be a key element in the Blue Jays’ success during this spring season. The Blue Jays will be participating in nine different tournaments before entering the MAC playoffs, so the team has time to come together and get things rolling. The Blue Jays will be at home Thursday, April 3 for the Elizabethtown Spring Blue Jay Classic at East Course in Hershey, Pa.
