Union University men’s and women’s golf teams competed against nine other collegiate teams from the states of Okla., Mo., and Kan., and Pa. at the Hillcat Classic hosted by Rogers State University in Owasso, Okla. on Mar. 14-15.
The men’s team placed second out of the 10 university golf teams, firing 21 shots over par.. The women’s team placed fifth, firing 89 shots over par. The winners for both the men’s and women’s tournaments were from the host teams of Roger State University at 7 shots over par for the men and 50 shots over par for the women.
JJ Zimmer from the men’s team placed second as an individual player, shooting a total of 212. Timothy Pinkston placed T-5 for the men, shooting 223. Emma Korte placed T-6 for the women with a total of 159.
The tournament kicked off to a challenging start as the players persevered in the midst of cold, windy weather.
“The first day playing was extremely difficult,” Cecily Berry, a player on the women’s team and a freshman business management student, said. “I have never played in wind so fierce or challenging. Oklahoma wind, which was nearly 30 mph that day, is no joke and as our coach said, ‘not for the faint of heart!’ Not only that, but the temperature was 45 degrees when we teed off. It was safe to say that we were cold, which doesn’t make swinging a golf club any easier!”
Despite the trying first day of the tournament, Berry shared about how the team built each other up in the face of adversity and unsatisfactory performance.
“As a freshman, it was encouraging to see that upperclassman were sharing in my struggles,” Berry said. “I went from feeling alone and disappointed, to feeling uplifted and encouraged.”
On day two, the weather conditions improved, and so did the players’ performances.
Berry spoke to what they learned from competing at the Hillcat Classic.
“The greatest things we take away from this tournament was the experience and a newfound ability to adjust to tough circumstances,” Berry said. “Future matches with bad weather and tough course conditions will be much easier to face now that we know how to deal with them.”
On Mar. 28-29, the men’s and women’s golf teams will compete in the Union University Spring Bulldog Bash at the Canebrake Golf Club in Athens, Ala.
