Pitt-Johnstown golf team started the spring portion of their 2014-2015 season Saturday at the West Liberty University (Wheeling, W. Va.) Intercollegiate Invitational.
The tournament was the first of three Invitationals the Mountain Cats are to play in this spring.
Junior Michael Rohall said that the team has to start showing progress now for the program to succeed.
“Having four juniors starting out of five golfers is a big advantage, and we are ready to make a name from Pitt-Johnstown men’s golf,” he said.
“We trust in (head) coach (Mike Drahos) and each other, so now is the time to make a statement.”
Last time Rohall shot in a round of competition was Oct. 18-19 at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships where he shot for 173 strokes overall, the second-best score of the last place Mountain Cats, and finished 34th overall.
“Our team goal is obviously to win, but, for us, it is mostly about improving,” he said.
“We want to compete in every tournament and have others say, ‘Look at the score Pitt-Johnstown posted,”
The highest placing the team has achieved this season is sixth place at the Ohio Valley University (Vienna, W. Va.) Fall Classic.
Even with the unpleasant golfing weather, they still found ways to improve their game.
“The team got together a few times over winter break and hit ballsindoors, and, when the weather was nice enough, we went out and played a few holes,” he said.
“It is hard to get a lot of practice in because the school does not give us many resources.”
He said that the team has set up a golf simulator in the Wellness Center and have been hitting a few times each week.
Sophomore Cody Trabert said that the whole team has to start shooting lower scores to achieve greater team accomplishments.
“Everyone has to play more consistently every round,” he said.
“It seems like every round we post a few low scores and then have an outlying score.”
