Golf Begins Spring Season Down South
The Waynesburg University golf team fell to Chowan University 405-312 in Valley Pine, North Carolina, on Thursday, March 2, in its first contest since the Presidents’ Athletic Championship Fall Championships on Oct. 3 and 4.
The star performer for the Yellow Jackets was freshman Alex Orlandini who shot the lowest score on the team with an 88. Not far behind was senior Joey Buchanan with a 91, followed by junior Ivan Li with a 98. Finally, senior R.J. Leisie and freshman Hugh O’Neil rounded out the scoring by shooting a 108 and a 111, respectively.
Orlandini, a graduate of South Fayette High School, is pleased with how his career at Waynesburg University is beginning.
“I believe I am adjusting to being a freshman very well,” said Orlandini. “I believe after most people’s first semester at college, they get into a schedule or routine that best fits them.”
Several newcomers make up Waynesburg’s roster; Orlandini, along with O’Neil, are
the two freshmen on the squad.
“Every person on our team has different strengths, and our trip to North Carolina showed
that,” said Orlandini. “We have three solid players that joined the golf team this semester that will help us score better and improve in the PAC standings.”
Third-year head coach Sam Jones was pleased with how the trip went as well.
“It was a great way to get the spring started off,” said Jones. “A couple of guys that weren’t on the team in the fall were there with us and it was nice to have them. It’s kind of like a pre-season game in another sport, but I was pretty pleased with how it went.”
Golf is different from every other college sport, because it has both a spring and a fall season. For Jones, the players have control over how long of a break they have between matches.
“It’s really up to the player to not let it be that long of a break,” said Jones. “Obviously, we don’t have organized practices like a soccer of a baseball [team]. It’s really up to the player to get in the sim room, or get out on a course when he goes home on the weekend.”
Orlandini sees a bright future ahead for himself and for the team.
“Our future for the golf team is bright due to only one player being a senior, and that we are starting to recruit for our team,” said Orlandini. “I believe this semester is the start of the rebuilding of the golf team and I am glad to be a part of it.”
The next time the Yellow Jackets take the greens will be on Friday, April 28, in the first round of the PAC Championships.