BEREA, OHIO -- During the 2007-2008 men's golf season, the Yellow Jackets compiled a 60-32-2 overall record and placed fourth at the 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament despite not having the services of its top player for much of the spring season. B-W posted a 29-11-1 mark during the fall 2007 season and a 31-21-1 slate during the spring 2008 campaign.
Overall, sophomore No.1 player Nick Bryan (Zanesville/ Bishop Rosecrans) led the team with a 74.29 stroke average in six tournament and 10.5 rounds of 18 holes. He was followed by sophomore Mike Falk (Strongsville) at 76.45, senior All-OAC player Matt Lewis (Canal Fulton/ Northwest) at 77.67, senior Mike Jenior (Rootstown) at 79.24, freshman Matt Weiss (Mentor) at 79.30 and freshman Brian Routhieaux (Gibsonia, Pa./ Mars Area) rounded out the sub-80-average players at 79.48 strokes per round. Overall, the six established a school team-record for the most golfers below 80 strokes in a season.
In addition, Falk earned Al-OAC accolades by placing eighth at the OAC Tournament and both Bryan (3.79 grade average in biology/ pre-med) and Lewis (3.28 grade average in business administration) were Academic All-OAC choices.
"We had a solid season but just never gained the consistency needed o make a run at the OAC title or a berth in the NCAA Division III National Tournament," said Head Coach Chris Kibler. "Losing Nick (Bryan) also really hurt. Anytime you lose your No.1 player, it makes a difference. Overall, I felt we had a good season, excellent team chemistry and alot of fun. I wish our three seniors all the best of luck in the future."
During the Fall 2007 season, Bryan set a school single-season stroke average record by averaging 74.0 strokes in five tournaments and 9.5 rounds. In addition, Falk carded the fifth-best single-season stroke average at 75.68 strokes per round. A school-record six Yellow Jacket golfers averaged less than 80 strokes per round with Lewis at 78.12, Weiss at 78.32, Jenior at 78.42 and Routhieaux at 79.05 overall.
During the Spring 2008 season, Bryan played in just one tournament and carded a 77 before being injured and lost for the season. He was followed in stroke average by Falk at 77.04, Lewis at 77.36, Routhieaux at 79.83, senior Jesse Baird (Avon Lake) at 79.84 and Jenior at 79.91 overall to again place six players under 80 strokes per round.
"We had good team balance," said Kibler. "The tough part was finding the right combination of golfers from week-to-week [In collegiate golf, a team constitutes five individuals with the top four scores counting toward the team total]. Invariably, one of our individuals would score better than one of the five. Many times, it is just the luck of the draw."
Although we lose three strong players in Mat Lewis, Mike Jenior and Jesse Baird, and we return five others who have the ability to keep this program in strong standing," said Kibler. "We also plan to add another strong recruiting class that will continue to make our program extremely competitive. Our goals wil continue to be to win the OAC title and advance to the NCAA Tournament."
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact B-W Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX machine at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. To contact Head Coach Chris Kibler, please call 440-826-2182 or e-mail at ckibler@bw.edu. You can get all of the latest B-W athletics information by visiting our Web site at www.bw.edu/athletics.
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