The men’s and women’s golf teams at California Baptist University have returned to fall competition for the first time since fall 2019.
The men’s team tied for tenth place in its first tournament of the season, while the women’s team finished second.
“My expectations for the first tournament were to represent the team and CBU to the best of our ability,” said Marc Machado, head coach of the CBU women’s golf team. “We go into every tournament with the goal of doing all of the small details to the best of our ability. If we do the common things uncommonly then we will have a chance to win the tournament.”
The women’s team runners-up in a field of sixteen schools, an impressive start to the fall season after facing a year of COVID-19 restrictions and canceled competitions.
“(COVID) is not going anywhere,” said T.L. Brown, head coach of the CBU men’s golf team. “When you travel it definitely is a strange thing to be warned and asked to wear a mask. (COVID) has definitely affected travel.”
Despite the difficulties and disruptions that are associated with traveling during COVID, the CBU golf athletes are working hard to perform well.
“The main goal for me going into the tournament was to put myself in a comfortable spot on the leaderboard going into the final day,” said James Mackie, junior marketing major and member of the CBU men’s golf team. “I thought I did very well. I had two rounds under par, and I kept putting the pedal down the whole tournament and at the end of the day, I was really happy to see where I was on the leaderboard.”
Both Lancer golf teams have worked through COVID disturbances and are continuing to excel into the fall season.
“We are all looking forward to pushing each other during practice and competing the rest of this fall and the spring season,” Machado said. “We don’t take the ability to compete for granted and we want to represent CBU and the Lord in all that we do.”
The women’s golf team finished competition at the Bearkat Invitational hosted by Western Athletic Conference foe Sam Houston State University on Tuesday.
The men’s golf team also finished competition on Tuesday at the Nick Watney Invitational hosted by Fresno State University.
The men finished seventh out of fourteen teams at the Nick Watney Invitational, which was won by California State University, Fullerton. John Hayes, senior business administration major, finished as the low-man for the Lancers.
The women finished runner-up at the Bearkat Invitational in Huntsville, Texas. Jocelyn Chee, graduate student, was the top finisher for the Lady Lancers for their second away competition of the season.
The CBU golf teams’ seasons have begun well. The women will compete in Washington state at Seattle University on October 11th. The men’s team will also head north to face Oregon State on October 12th.
