If the Georgia Northwestern men's golf team needed any reminder that they were no longer in the friendly confines of the southeast, Monday morning was most definitely a wake-up call.
Gray clouds, a fine falling mist, wind gusts blowing over 10 miles per hour and temperatures in the 40’s greeted the Bobcats as they began their practice round for the NJCAA Division III Men’s National Championships at historic Chatuaqua Golf Club in New York.
Although locals said sun and temperatures in near 80 were the norm just a week ago, a freak early summer cold snap blew through the area off Lake Erie on Sunday, making playing conditions – along with most everything else – less than ideal.
“I never thought I’d be able to see my breath on June 1,” head coach Jared Willerson lamented.
But despite the frosty welcome from Mother Nature, the Region 17 champions pushed on to get in their round and walked away liking what they saw.
“I love the course,” Willerson said.
“It’s an old-school layout where you have to keep in front of you. All you have to do is concentrate on playing golf.”
Some of the Bobcats said the layout reminded them of places like Indian Trace and Spring Lakes back at in Chatsworth.
“The greens are a lot like LaFayette’s in that they’re small,” Chase Cole described. “But I like (the course). I love bent grass. It’s so much easier to hit off of. It’s like hitting into butter.”
Georgia Northwestern will be one of 13 teams competing for a national title this week and Jordan Estes said he believes the 100-year-old course – which has hosted everyone from golf legends Walter Hagen and Sam Snead to former president Bill Clinton – suits him and his teammates to a “T”.
“I think (the course) is perfect,” he explained. “I think it sets up nice for us. We’re feeling pretty good and I think it’s going to be a good week.”
Willerson said he thought his team hit the ball well during its practice round.
“One or two have a couple of little issues we’ve got to work out, but I thought they all hit it well for the most part and they all putted it well. All of our guys have good short games and this is a place where your short game can really shine.”
After enduring a nearly 700-mile trip on Sunday, which at times included both wind and rain, Willerson said his team is focused on its goal of bringing the school’s first national championship back home to Rock Spring.
“Our expectation is to win,” he added. “We didn’t drive over 15 hours to come up here and not win and I have no shame in saying that.”
The team will attend a welcome banquet at the club at 6:30 p.m. tonight and Cole will be the first Bobcat to tee off when the tournament begins Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. and all of the Bobcats will have teed off by 9:35.
Forecasts are calling for a small warm-up tomorrow with temperatures in the mid-60’s. The rest of the week is shaping up to be more seasonable with highs in the 70’s approaching 80 by round four on Friday and just a slight chance of showers on the final day.