Coming into the spring season in the second of half of the 2020 semester, the California Baptist University’s men and women’s golf teams are set to finish strong in all its tournaments.
The women’s team finished second Feb. 22 at the Grand Canyon Spring Invite in Phoenix, and the men’s team tied for sixth Feb. 25 at the The Joust in Jurupa Valley, Calif.
The women only lost to the home team, Grand Canyon University. Marc Machado, head coach of women’s golf, said the course was tricky and GCU is the master of the course as it is their home course.
Before traveling to the GCU Spring Invite in Phoenix, the women had a home tournament called “The Battle at the Rock” that was canceled on Feb. 11.
“We had a tournament fully canceled because of the wind,” Machado said. “Sometimes we have delays because of frosts and rain, but this is the first time we have ever had a tournament canceled.”
Machado said the team was excited about the home tournament because it was a course they are familiar with. However, 50 mph wind gusts forced the tournament to be canceled.
Jocelyn Chee, junior applied statistics major and captain of women’s golf, said that they were disappointed that they were not able to compete in the course.
“We wanted to take advantage of it being a course that we play a lot in,” Chee said. “We thought it would be nice to be able to get a victory there.”
The men have been picking up their game from the fall season, placing well against challenging competition.
The team has persevered, especially after facing strong winds during the final round of The Joust in Jurupa Valley.
“With the help of our coach’s great reputation around the college golf community, we have gotten into some really competitive events and it is a great way to learn and grow as a team,” said Justin Cross, sophomore marketing major.
Cross said the competition has made them realize areas where they need to improve.
The Caddy Classic at Goose Creek Golf Club on Feb. 1 was an important event for getting the team tuned up for the spring season after Christmas break.
Chee said it was an unofficial, internal friendly tournament in which each player from the women’s and men’s team partnered and played as a team.
Cross and Anabella Gurrola, freshman business administration major, won the tournament.
Chee said it was a great bonding moment because even though the men and women do not compete together they are still part of the Lancer golf family.
The season should end strong for both teams.
