In seven seasons leading the golf program, Cyclones Head Coach Matt Lovelace claimed this team was the most talented he's had. They consistently played well, finishing first on their home course and raking up some individual awards.
This crew amassed lower scores in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference, earning them a second place overall finish in the standings. Since 2018, the Cyclones have had to contend with a strong College of Lake County squad, playing second fiddle each time. Defeating the Lancers is always a goal, and they did just that on their home course, Cog Hill, on Sept. 14.
"Everyone was super happy. This home win was a highlight. At least we beat Lake County there, so we know we can beat them," Lovelace said.
The Cyclones then finished 10th at the NJCAA Region IV Preview at the end of September, which prepared the team to compete on that same tough course for the NJCAA Region IV Championship a week later. After a windy and cold three days at regionals (Oct. 6-8), the Cyclones finished seventh out of 12 colleges, a place higher than last year. Even with less than ideal conditions, sophomore Tommy Schaaf had the second best score on the final day among all golfers – 75.
"Tommy shot the best match of his life at the very end of the season. That's all I ask, that they play their best, and they did," Lovelace said. "I always hope the guys play better when they leave than when they start."
Lovelace was happy with his team's overall season. Three golfers earned All-Conference honors – Anthony Bestrick was the No. 3 player with an average 78; Ben King was No. 5, averaging a 79; and Caden Carr finished at No. 9 with an 80.8 average. Dan Davila and David Prim also contributed to the team's accomplishments.
"The way the guys played, I was super happy. It was a great year. They bonded, practiced hard, did everything I asked and progressed. They were a talented group," Lovelace said. "Tommy was the only sophomore and a big team leader. He'll be missed, but we should have a few guys returning and some skilled freshmen coming in for our continued success."