STATE COLLEGE, PA - The Berea College golf team took to the USCAA National Golf Tournament in State College, Pennsylvania this Monday and Tuesday, taking 8th out of 24 teams.
Day one was not an easy adjustment for the Mountaineer linksmen, who found themselves in 9thafter their first 18 holes on the blue course at the Penn State University golf facility. Kevin Kim shot a 77 on the first day, putting him in 7thplace overall, chasing Cleary University's Devin Young, who shot a staggering 68 on the first day. Austin Worleyshot 80 to put him just outside of the top 20 in the USCAA going into the second round. The Mountaineers shot 342 for their team total on Monday, looking to improve and make up some ground on the rest of the field.
Day two gave Berea the opportunity to move up in the team and individual standings. Kevin Kim shot a 78 on day two, which kept him in 7thplace overall in the USCAA. Austin Worley shot an 84 and finished tied for 26th. Ben Piercefield shot a much improved score on day two, shooting an 82 and finishing 64th. Nate Metz and Trevor Humes tied for 66th, with Derrick Lisanby and Ryan Akins rounding out the Mountaineer lineup, finishing 72nd and 95th, respectively. Berea moved up from 9th to 8th in the team standings, improving six spots from their last year finish of 14th.
Coach Trent Milby was awarded the very prestigious title of the USCAA Golf Coach of the Year. When asked about the tournament and adding another accomplishment to his already impressive resume, Milby stated, "Our first day wasn't our best, and I feel like we all were just too tight- thinking too much. Monday night, I told the boys to have one motto in their head all day long, "go lower", and, sure enough, their scores went lower. As far as the award goes, it's just icing on the cake. Another great year."
Along with Coach Milby's Coach of the Year Award sophomore Kevin Kim was named USCAA First Team All American for his 7th place finish in the tournament.
All golfers, except for Ryan Akins, who will be graduating in December, will be back in action for the 2016 spring season. For more information about the golf team's spring season, make sure to keep checking www.BereaAthletics.com.