Golf News

UC Looks to Regain its Mystique
Golden Eagle golfers in regional after disappointing WVC season
April 29, 2005

By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor, Charleston Gazette

Like a sweet putt moving to the hole, the University of Charleston’s golf program was on a roll.

Around this time last year, Mike Todd and Chris McCormick were finishing one-two, respectively, to lead the Golden Eagles to a whopping 10-stroke victory in the NCAA Division II East Regional.

It was UC’s second super regional crown in three years.

"We had that Charleston mystique,’’ said McCormick, now a senior. "Pretty much every tournament we went to, we were the team to beat.’’

This year, the Golden Eagles again made the East super regional (called "super’’ because the Northeast regional is held simultaneously) Monday through Wednesday at the Pine Barrens Golf Club in Jackson, N.J. It is UC’s fifth such berth in the last six years.

Strangely, though, the program’s mystique seems gone. Although Todd and McCormick returned, the Eagles finished fourth in the West Virginia Conference tournament and are seeded sixth of the eight teams in the regional.

West Virginia Conference schools Concord (the league champ), West Liberty, and Ohio Valley are seeded ahead of the Golden Eagles. (WVC schools Fairmont State and Shepherd are also in the field.) And the highest postseason honor for UC was Todd’s second-team all-league selection.

"It’s pretty much the same team as last year,’’ McCormick said, "but this year we struggled a little more. We had trouble with our putting.’’

"The season probably wasn’t as good as we hoped,’’ said coach Mike Good, "but those in the region are pretty evenly matched. All the teams have beaten and lost to each other.’’

UC, though, is used to playing in the national tourney. Last year it was at the Victoria Hills Golf Club in DeLand, Fla. Good recalls his team finished 11th in 2001 at Grand Rapids, Mich.

"I would hope we’re good enough to get [to the regionals] every year,’’ said the coach.

Now the question is, can the Eagles catch fire in New Jersey?

"We’ve got the horses; it’s just a matter of putting it all together,’’ Good said. He pointed to a tournament won in Hickory, N.C., over Pfeiffer, a top-25 program.

"I know we have the capability.’’

UC has McCormick, who has been the team’s No. 1 man for three years. It has Todd, an honorable mention All-America pick last season as a freshman. It has junior Mike Peet, the team’s low scorer in the last two tournaments.

Also, it has an advantage, thanks to the school calendar.

"One advantage is we’re done with school this week,’’ McCormick said. "We can focus on the task at hand while others deal with finals.’’

And the task at hand includes ...

"We’d definitely like to have that intimidation factor back.’’