The Warrior men's golf team saved the best for last as they won the first tournament championship in the program's young history on Friday. In the last tournament of the season, the men traveled to Lima, OH to participate in the 37th annual Baron's Golf Invitational hosted by Ohio State University-Lima. The tournament was held at Hawthorne Hills Golf Club. The team score of 306 was a team best, as were the individual scores posted by freshmen Brad Hunt and Gary Turner.
Hunt and Turner each posted a 75 which tied for the lowest tournament round in the program's short history. Their 75 was good enough to tie them for 2nd overall in the tournament. They were followed closely by senior Colt Walker's 77, junior Jay Gilman's 79, and freshman Mike Iannucci's 81. Coach Clayton Bissett was extremely proud of his team.
"The guys really hung in there this season," Bissett said. "The extended cold and snow in the winter made this a tough spring and did not allow us much time to practice. I am just glad that it all came together for us in our last tournament."
Coach Bissett was also happy with his team's first year of competition and is looking forward to next year.
"I am very proud of the way our freshmen came through for us," he said. "Brad and Gary were solid all year and Mike really started to get it rolling the last couple of days. "I wish Colt could play for us another year, but I am excited about the great core of players we have coming back. We have good young players, and Jay should be a strong senior leader of us next season."
18 April 2008
Spring Arbor University Invitational Men's Tournament Recap
After an hour and a half delay because of frost and 36 holes of golf, the Warriors came home with a total team score of 666 which was good for 10th place. Junior Jay Gilman led the way with a two round score of 162. The 666 was a 36-hole team record. The Warriors will travel to Lima, OH on Friday for their last tournament of the season.
14 April 2008
Tri-State University - A.C. Eddy Spring Classic Men's Tournament Recap
On a chilly and windy day in Angola, IN, the men's golf team came away with a very strong showing this past Friday. Fighting 20-30 mph winds and after a stoppage of play because of rain and lightning, the Warriors garnered a 4th place finish in a field filled with top teams from the NAIA and NCAA Division III, and an NCAA Division II team. Freshman Gary Turner once again led the Warriors' charge with a 79, putting him in a tie for 14th place. The Warriors finished with a team score of 325. The men's team will next see action in a one day, 36-hole tournament in Spring Arbor on Monday the 14th.
10 April 2008
Defiance College Spring Invitational Men's Tournament Recap
On a windy day in Defiance, OH, freshman Gary Turner was able to lead the Rochester College men's golf team in their first tournament of the spring season with a team best 78. Turner's 78 was good for a tie for 6th place. The Warriors finished with a team score of 332. They will next see action on Friday as they head to the TSU-A.C. Eddy Spring Classic hosted by Tri-State University in Angola, IN.
13 November 2007
Golf Team signs first golfer for the 08' season.
The Rochester College men's golf team has inked its first recruit for the 2008-2009 season. Elliott Kern, a senior at Oakland Christian High School, has signed a letter of intent to play golf for the Warriors next year. Kern, a Rochester Hills resident, has an 18-hole average score of 84 going into his senior season of golf at OCHS. "Elliott is a great addition to the program," Rochester College head golf coach Clayton Bissett said. "Elliott is a solid student, a very good golfer, and will be great for the Rochester College community. I am extremely excited to be able to work with Elliott throughout his college career."
02 October 2007
Motor City Invitational Men's Tournament Recap
The men's golf team completed their season on Monday when they finished the two day Motor City Invitational hosted by Wayne State University. The tournament, which was held at Pheasant Run Golf Club on Sunday and Edgewood Country Club on Monday, was almost rained out the second day. After a 4 hour rain delay, Jay Gilman shot a team best 77 for the day. He finished with a two day score of 167, followed by Gary Turner's 162, and Joel Harrison's 185. The men's team finishes their fall season with 3 top ten tournament finishes and will begin play again in the spring.
02 October 2007
Tri-state University - Ken Venturi Invitational Men's Tournament Recap
The men's golf team travelled to Angola, IN for their next to last tournament of the fall this past Friday. Gary Turner lead the Warriors to an 8th place finish and a team score of 322. Turner's 76 (+4) was good for a 9th place finish in the field of over 50 participants. He was followed closely by Corey Huizenga (78), Jay Gilman (84), Joel Harrison (84), and Mike Iannucci (85). The Warrior golf team will complete their fall schedule on Sunday and Monday when the compete in the Motor City Invitational hosted by Wayne State University.
27 September 2007
University of Windsor Men's Golf Tournament Recap
The men's golf team traveled to Canada to compete in the Lancer Invitational held by the University of Windsor on Thursday. They came back with a sixth place finish with a team score of 337. Corey Huizenga shot a team best 78 which was good for an 11th place finish. Jay Gilman (83), Gary Turner (86), Klinton Wheeler (90), and Joel Harrison (95) rounded out the rest of the team's scores. The Warrior golf team will see their next action in Angola, IN at the Ken Venturi Invitational Golf Tournament hosted by Tri-State University at the Zollner Golf Course on Friday, September 28th.
11 September 2007
Men's Golf has Strong Showing at Bay Pointe Golf Club
The men's golf team had a strong showing at the Oakland Community College tournament held at Bay Pointe Golf Club this past weekend. They turned in a team score of 320. Jay Gilman led the way as he finished 7th overall with a +4 75. He was followed by Corey Huizenga's 80 which was good for 10th place, Gary Turner (82), Klinton Wheeler (83), Mike Iannucci (93), and Joel Harrison (95). The Warrior's will next travel to Canada on Thursday, September 20th to compete in the University of Windsor's tournament at Sutton Creek Golf and Country Club.
04 September 2007
Men's Golf Competes in First Ever Tournament over Labor Day Weekend
The Rochester College men's golf team competed in their first ever golf tournament this past weekend. Olivet College hosted the Lou Collins Classic at Bedford Valley Country Club over the Labor Day Weekend. Rochester College finished tied for 15th with a two day team score of 673. The Warriors' low score was turned in by Corey Huizenga who tied for 36th individually with a two day total of 159. He was followed by Jay Gilman (170), Klinton Wheeler (174), Gary Turner (175), and Joel Harrison (177). The Warriors' will see their next action at Bay Pointe Golf Club in West Bloomfield on September 9th.
30 August 2007
2007-2008 Golf Team Season Outlook
The Rochester College Warriors men’s and women’s golf teams are preparing to begin their first season of competition this fall. Although in their inaugural season, the teams are excited and have high expectations of what the season will bring.
Coach Clayton Bissett has liked what he has seen in the preseason practices. “We have some golfers who can really strike the ball. Our home golf course, Greystone Golf Club, is a tough course to play. I told the team that if they can score well on that course, they can score well anywhere.”
Despite this being the first year for the programs, there is experience on the roster. Juniors Jay Gilman and Corey Huizenga from Kalamazoo Community College along with senior David Romero who transferred from York College give the team needed experience and depth. “Jay, Corey, and David have all played at a high level of intercollegiate golf,” says Coach Bissett. “I am very happy with the leadership and example they provide for the younger golfers.”
“Jay is a very solid player who can turn in a great round at any time. Corey is very long off the tee and great around the green, and David is one of those guys who is consistent all the time.”
The team also has a good core of younger players. Klinton Wheeler, a transfer from York College, joins Joel Harrison (Waterford Christian Academy), Mike Iannucci (Utica Stevenson), Gary Turner (Avondale), and Jordan Grambush (Fenton) to form a nucleus of talented young players. “I am very pleased with the young group we have,” says Bissett. “They are all very talented and want to get better.
“Klinton has a great willingness to learn and has a love for the game that will help him get better year after year. Joel has been a pleasant surprise. He has come in and turned in some very good scores,” Bissett said. “I am very pleased with Mike’s work ethic. He will get better from sheer work. Gary is a guy who you would want on your team no matter what the format of the tournament. I am very proud of Jordan. Even though she is the only female on the team, she does not back down one bit and competes with the guys.”
The future looks bright for this season, next season, and many seasons to come with the combination of experienced players and good young talent the Warriors have.
