“With three events left before the MAC Championships, The University of Akron (UA) Men’s Golf team looks to peak just in time for the post-season. According to second-year head coach Nick Goetze, the team has gone through adversity and a bit of rust brought by the winter-long season break, but they are capable of making a run in time for the MAC Championships.”
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With three events left before the MAC Championships, The University of Akron (UA) Men’s Golf team looks to peak just in time for the post-season.

According to second-year head coach Nick Goetze, the team has gone through adversity and a bit of rust brought by the winter-long season break, but they are capable of making a run in time for the MAC Championships.

The ingredients are there; the management of our gameplan and the physical skills, Goetze said. I as well as the team members believe we haven’t come close to playing like what we’re capable of this spring.

This season, the Zips lost seniors Matt Considine, Ryan Gutowski, and last year’s number four-ranked golfer in the MAC, Colin Clemente. As part of Goetze’s first recruiting class, the Zips welcomed four freshman.

The Zips’ top five scorers consist of senior David Addison, junior Jacob Patte, and freshmen Scott Landreth, Ryan Mason, and Tim Lew.

With the majority of players underclassmen, Goetze is setting the team’s bar high for the next few years.

The fact that these freshmen have played well in year one, that is an indicator that they will become dominant members down the road, Goetze said. Not that they won’t be pushed, we’re hoping to bring in more and more competitive recruiting classes each year.

Two of Goetze’s recruits are from Ontario. Landreth is from Stratford, while Lew is from Courtice.

Canada really offers us a talented pool for us to take a look at, Goetze said.

The two Canadian recruits join Addison, from Stewarton, Scotland, and Patte, also from Ontario, as international members of the team.

Lew has managed to lead the team in scoring average despite a dislocated shoulder suffered in the winter. According to Goetze, Lew will likely have surgery in the off-season and could miss part of next year’s fall season.

Goetze has been impressed with Lew’s ability to be a leader in his freshman season.

He is the most organized and disciplined athlete as far as following the queues that we as coaches provide from skill training and practice, he said

The MAC Championships will be held in Indianapolis, Ind. at The Brickyard Crossing Golf Club. No current team member has competed at the course. Clemente, who has competed at the Crossing, will travel with the team to help prepare for the tournament.

Goetze believes that the fact that the team has played below their capability in the spring can help them when the MAC Championships begin.

Our backs are against the wall a little bit, we’ll be able to roll the dice and take our chances at the tournament, he said.

The MAC Championships begin on Apr. 30 and run through May 2.

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