2008 Woodie Awards
Golfers keep busy polishing game over summer
Michael Schaefer
Issue date: 8/21/08 Section: Sports
A summer at the driving range sounds like a vacation to most students. Flying over the country and playing in top-tier golf tournaments? For the Nebraska men's golf team, that's called the offseason - and that's just icing on the cake.
"In a sport like golf, the offseason or summer is a time where they can really improve," Coach Bill Spangler said.
Sprangle's been able to keep tabs on some of his golfers by following some of their tournaments on the Internet. He's also played a few tournaments with them, and he's stressed the importance of staying up with the game during the summer.
The coach's hope is that the experience his golfers get during the summer will translate to better performances in the fall.
The Huskers faltered last season. After qualifying for the regional tournament the past two years, the team finished 11th at the Big 12 Championship. Then-freshman Mike Coatman led the way for the team and finished 16th.
"They need to travel and play competitively in bigger, high-profile tournaments," Spangler said of the team.
"That's who they play in college. It really helps them prepare for collegiate golf."
Among the Huskers who found success this summer is junior Brandon Crick, who transferred to NU from Gonzaga University in Washington. Crick won the Nebraska Match Play Championships and then shot a 5-under on 36 holes to tie for fourth in qualifying rounds at the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Crick and Coatman each finished in the top 10 at the Nebraska Amateur Championship.
Coatman also has enjoyed a solid summer by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship held in Pinehurst, N.C. The U.S. Amateur Championship has been won by the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in years past.
Nebraska's golf team has 11 members this season, four more than last year.
"We have more bodies in the mix to make our qualifying round more competitive," Spangler said.
For senior Trent Price, the more competition, the better.
"I'm a pretty competitive person," Price said. "You've got to like some pressure. The pressure is what makes it fun."
Spangler will be adding a little more pressure on Price. He's expecting his three seniors - Price, Mark Pillen and Chris Bruening - to step up and take leadership positions.
"I'm going to be asking those guys to take the reins," Spangler said.
Michaelschaefer@dailynebraskan.com
"In a sport like golf, the offseason or summer is a time where they can really improve," Coach Bill Spangler said.
Sprangle's been able to keep tabs on some of his golfers by following some of their tournaments on the Internet. He's also played a few tournaments with them, and he's stressed the importance of staying up with the game during the summer.
The coach's hope is that the experience his golfers get during the summer will translate to better performances in the fall.
The Huskers faltered last season. After qualifying for the regional tournament the past two years, the team finished 11th at the Big 12 Championship. Then-freshman Mike Coatman led the way for the team and finished 16th.
"They need to travel and play competitively in bigger, high-profile tournaments," Spangler said of the team.
"That's who they play in college. It really helps them prepare for collegiate golf."
Among the Huskers who found success this summer is junior Brandon Crick, who transferred to NU from Gonzaga University in Washington. Crick won the Nebraska Match Play Championships and then shot a 5-under on 36 holes to tie for fourth in qualifying rounds at the U.S. Amateur Public Links.
Crick and Coatman each finished in the top 10 at the Nebraska Amateur Championship.
Coatman also has enjoyed a solid summer by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship held in Pinehurst, N.C. The U.S. Amateur Championship has been won by the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in years past.
Nebraska's golf team has 11 members this season, four more than last year.
"We have more bodies in the mix to make our qualifying round more competitive," Spangler said.
For senior Trent Price, the more competition, the better.
"I'm a pretty competitive person," Price said. "You've got to like some pressure. The pressure is what makes it fun."
Spangler will be adding a little more pressure on Price. He's expecting his three seniors - Price, Mark Pillen and Chris Bruening - to step up and take leadership positions.
"I'm going to be asking those guys to take the reins," Spangler said.
Michaelschaefer@dailynebraskan.com
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