2/2/2010
Written By: Larry Happel, Central College Sports Information Director
Category: On the Tee  

Outlook
               

Four of the top five players from last year’s Iowa Conference championship squad return, but there’s a void at the top that must be filled for the Central College men’s golf team.
               

Graduated four-time all-conference honoree and former league MVP Andy Petersen nearly always turned in the team’s best scorecard as the Dutch captured a record 27th conference title and earned their 28th NCAA Division III tournament berth, finishing 19th in the U.S.
               

But with four returning all-conference players, the Dutch are in position for another big spring. Last year’s No. 2 player, senior Andrew Townsend, appears ready to take on the No. 1 role.  Seventh in last year’s conference tournament, Townsend averaged 75.8 in the spring and lowered that to 75.2 last fall, the team’s best by more than two shots. He was second at Central’s Ryerson Fall Classic.
               

Another veteran, senior Justin Smool, averaged 77.3 in the spring and matched that in the fall. He tied for eighth in the league meet and took medalist honors at the Ryerson Fall Classic while tying for 11th in the power-packed Twin Cities Classic in October.
               

Junior Jason Harvey had a strong fall as well, averaging 78.6 after turning in 78.0 in the spring and tying Smool for eighth in the conference. Harvey tied for eighth at the Mount Mercy Classic in September.
               

Junior Matt Vegter finished sixth at the conference tournament and averaged 78.2 for the spring season. However his fall season was abbreviated by injury and he played in just two tournaments, both in September, as his average skied to 81.5. However the Dutch are hopeful he’ll return to form in the spring.
               

While those four have the most tournament experience, the spring lineup is far from set as the Dutch have a number of other players with the ability to contend.
               

Highest on the list is senior Joel Winters, who earned all-America honors as a freshman in 2007 before enduring some struggles the next two years. But he appeared to regain his footing in recent months, making a dramatic turnaround. He tied for seventh at the Clarke Fall Invitational.
               

Senior Matt Stock saw some varsity action last spring, tying for fifth at the Central Dutch Classic and could claim a spot. He averaged 79.6 last spring before an up and down fall resulted in an 82.2 average.
               

Junior Alex Huyser forced his way into the lineup last fall. He tied for third at the Ryerson Fall Classic and was on the varsity for the final fall tournament, the Oglethorpe Invitational in Georgia. After averaging 85.0 in limited action last spring, his averaged plummeted to 79.6 in the fall.
               

Five sophomores are in the hunt. Brent Goodenow had a promising freshman campaign, averaging 78.9. He missed the fall season while studying in Europe through Central Abroad, but could give the Dutch a boost with his return. C.J. Gaston tied for sixth in the Ryerson fall tourney and averaged 79.3. Will Overlander won the Central Dutch Invitational last spring. His average dropped from 83.3 to 81.1 in the fall. Likewise, Travis Havens made big strides in averaging 80.3 in the fall.  Brent Messmore tied for 11th at the Central Dutch Classic in the spring and averaged 81.0 last fall.
               

A couple of freshmen bring significant high school resumes. Drew Osier of Austin, Minn. tied for third at the Ryerson tourney and finished at 79.3 for the fall. Another promising rookie, Erik Grunder of Wilton, also plays running back on the football team and hasn’t swung a club for the Dutch yet.
               

Another spring break trip to Arizona opens the schedule again as Central plays host to the Dutch Desert Shootout March 17. The Central Dutch Invitational March 26-27 at Pella’s Bos Landen Golf Club opens the northern portion of the spring slate.