he Elizabethtown College golf team competed in two tournaments this past week, starting by hosting the Spring Blue Jay Classic. The Classic was held at the Hershey Links golf course for the first time since 2009. Hershey Links course holds a Par 72, totaling 6,542 yards. The Jays competed in a collection of 16 teams for a total of 88 players.
The Jays could not seem to find their footing in the tournament. The Jays’ four-man team competing in the tournament consisted of sophomore Ryan Forbes, sophomore Ryan Laudeman, first-year Adam Amspacher and first-year Ryan Backes. The Jays also entered a few individual players including junior Tyler Britt, sophomore Josh Wheeler, junior Kirie Kontostathis, first-year Austin Blanco and first-year Josh Peters.
Again, it was up to their leaders with Laudeman as the team’s low scorer, coming in only eight over par, grabbing the tie for the 31st place finish. Laudeman birdied two holes and collected nine pars to finish out the day. Forbes followed right behind, finishing nine over par, only a stroke from his career-best round, to land in a tie for the 38thplace finish. Forbes’ best hole came on the par-5, 501-yard ninth hole, where the Jays eagled. Amspacher ended the day ten over par with a tie for 41st and Backes
tallied an 89 (+17) to complete the scoring quartet for Etown.
The Jays ended 12th on the day, besting Lebanon Valley College, Lycoming College and Widener University. Messiah College won the day, winning both the team title (+5) and the individual title. The individual winner, Austin Galaska, was the only player to go under par (-3).
With no seniors on the team, the underclassmen have stepped up to the leadership roles. Amspacher stated, “Our underclassman leaders, Laudeman and Forbes, have become great friends, incredible mentors and phenomenal leaders. When I joined the team last fall, I remember how inviting and supportive they were of being a new member on the team. Since then, they have never stopped encouraging and supporting each and every one of us on the team. Having leaders such as these two makes golfing at Etown fun and enjoyable.”
Laudeman has not shied away from this leadership role. “Being a sophomore and the team captain is definitely something I take pride in,” he said. “I’m always helping out my teammates as best as I can, whether it’s on the driving range or chipping and putting.”
The Jays were finally able to face some good weather in their tournament this past Saturday at the Stevenson Spring Invitational at Piney Branch Golf Club. Practices have been difficult, with the team facing not only the cold, but also the wind. Amspacher said, “Just finishing a round in the beginning of the season with 30 degree temps and strong winds was a feat all by itself. It prepared the team for our first two matches where we played in the same type of weather. Luckily the weather is starting to cooperate.”
Etown took fourth of six teams at the tournament, shooting 349 (+65). Once again, Laudeman and Forbes led the Jays, each shooting 83 (+11) on the par 71, totaling 6,870 yards. Saturday’s course was the longest that Etown has competed on this season.
Blanco followed closely in Laudeman’s and Forbe’s footsteps with a round of 15 over par, good for 19th place. Backes and Britt finished 28th and 36th, respectively.
Messiah won out the day again with the Falcon’s M’Cheyne Farling taking the individual title with a round of five over par and the team taking the title with 310 swings. Messiah was followed by Stevenson University and Immaculata University.
Etown will play in the two-round Glenmaura National Collegiate Invitational next Sunday and Monday in Moosic, Pa. Their final regular season tournament, the Messiah Falcon Classic, was held April 4 at the Blue Ridge Country Club. The Jays will head to the Commonwealth Conference Championships held at Hershey on April 27 and April 28.
Laudeman said of the team’s next invitational, “my teammates and I have been working very hard and we’re looking forward to a strong showing this weekend at Glenmaura National.”
