Golf is just one of many underrated sports, yet the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Men’s golf team continues to prove that they have a reason to be recognized.
The team finished in second in their first two tournaments of the season. Showing that they are training hard and taking full advantage of the season this year.
Redshirt junior Kyle Pearson is taking full advantage of what may be his last season. He watched his fellow upperclassman lose a year of playing. This led him to take a step back in order to better himself as a player.
“The chance that we could have a season and be one of the only sports that was allowed to play was motivating for everyone. Everyone worked extra hard this summer,” Pearson said. “You know, if we get the opportunity we want to take advantage of it, and I think that’s helped a lot this season. Everyone came back ready to play.”
Pearson came back ready to play this year as he has finished with a score of 220 or less in each tournament.
In the Maverick’s most recent tournament, Pearson registered 11 birdies and he had registered 38 pars, finishing in second in the tournament.
Sophomore Peter Grossenbacher said that there was a big emphasis placed on the tournament in El Paso, Texas. CMU Men’s Golf Head Coach, Scott Sullivan, was persistent that the trip would be worth it, encouraging the guys to do their best and work their hardest.
“We were pretty excited about our second-place finish. To go down there and finish second was really important for our ranking against other teams,” Grossenbacher said. “Obviously, we wanted to get first, but it was nice to go down there, see the course for the first time, work as a team, and get it done.”
Grossenbacher finished the Farmers Insurance Samuel Proal Invite with nine birdies. He also registered 34 pars in CMU’s most recent tournament.
Sullivan is doing everything he can to maintain a top-three ranking in the following tournaments. His goal for the team this year is to make it to regionals and follow with nationals.
Having many young athletes makes it difficult, not impossible. Sullivan plans to work with them to improve and strengthen their weaknesses.
As the team continues to improve, they are also taking advantage of the new rules in place due to COVID.
“It’s been a little different. The first one was a normal competition, where we were intermixed with other teams. We went to El Paso and they put us in a fivesome, so all our starting five were together. So, it was a unique experience where I could be with them all. Typically they aren’t, they’re spread out, so I can’t be with them all at once,” Sullivan said.
This has led to a combination of both team bonding and growth for all the athletes.
Grossenbacher has continued to listen to the many lessons from his grandfather and dad. One of those being the idea of trusting the river, which is where the golf team is now.
Although this season is unpredictable and has changed in multiple ways, the team is striving to do their best to maintain their position at the top. They are working hard to keep a good standing through the regional rankings, in order to follow through with nationals.
The Maverick’s final tournament of the fall season is the Ryan Powell Foundation Invite on Oct. 26 in Amarillo, Texas at 9 a.m.
