Trinity’s golf program prepares to kick off its spring season, beginning March 2 at the Schreiner Spring Shootout. Coming off of a solid fall campaign, the Tiger women will look to defend their conference title from last year, while the men will try to build off of their NCAA Division III ranking of 25th.
Last year junior Brigette Lee, and sophomores Christine Campbell and Hanna Niner all received All-SCAC Women’s Golf First Team honors. Junior Madeline Moran was named to the second team, and Niner was also distinguished as SCAC Women’s Golf Freshman of the Year. All of these competitors have returned for this season, giving Trinity valuable experience.
The Tiger women have brought in two first years: Shelby DeVore and Taylor Moser. Sophomores Julia Elmore and Yanina Soudaly and senior Alessa Hutter comprise the rest of the women’s team.
In the fall, the women started off strong as they won the TLU Lady Bulldog Invitational. At the Golfweek Division III Fall Preview, the women finished in eighth place. Finishing off the fall season, Trinity came in fifth at the Alamo City Classic.
Including the Schreiner Spring Shootout March 2-3, the Tigers will compete in three tournaments before they head back to the SCAC Championships to defend their title.
“I expect us to make a strong showing at all of the [tournaments],” Niner said. “We have a really good team and I think we haven’t played to our full ability yet, but I think this spring we will. SCAC Championships always seem to come down to Southwestern and us, but I think if our team plays how well I know we can, then we shouldn’t have a problem.”
While the women kicked off the fall on a high note, the men ended on one, winning the Alamo City Classic to close out the season.
The Tiger men finished seventh at the TLU Bulldog Invitational and ninth at the NCAA Tournament Town Preview.
Last year, the Tiger men finished second at the conference tournament behind Schreiner University.
Graduate Tyler Lehmann earned All-SCAC Men’s Golf First Team honors, while teammates Erik Long-Goheen and senior Kalen Vos received second team designations.
Vos and Felipe Benalcazar are the only returning seniors, joined by junior Alex Hartzell, and sophomores Travis Hindle, Redmond Lyons, Will Street, Diego Trevino and Trevor Warner. The Tigers have also brought in first year Corbin Cormier.
“Our expectations are high,” Trevino said. “Focusing on the short term, our goal is to win the first tournament of the season so we can get some momentum. Long term, we want to ensure a spot at nationals. We know we can do it, and hopefully we will.”
The Trinity men will join the women at the Schreiner Spring Shootout to open the spring season. Including this tournament against the reigning conference champs, the Tigers will participate in four competitions prior to the SCAC Championships scheduled for April 21-22 in Blanco, Texas.
“It definitely serves as motivation knowing that the spring opener will be against Schreiner, and on their home turf,” said men’s golf coach Sean Etheredge. “They are a great program with solid talent and were very underrated at the time, in my opinion. It has been a nice goal for us to have this tournament upcoming, and it has been in our sights since the final day of SCAC Conference last year.”‹ Our victory last year against the [2013] defending National Champions, UT-Tyler, gave us the confidence that when we play our best we can tee it up with anyone.”
