Scot Golfers Come in Ninth at Spring Debut

Joe Punturi

Facing tough course conditions (unseasonably cool temperatures and 10-20 M.P.H winds) and a challenging field, The College of Wooster golf team’s spring debut resulted in a ninth-place finish at the 13-team St. Andrew’s Presbyterian College Invitational on March 21-22.

As a whole, Wooster totaled rounds of 338 and 329 for a 667 score at the par-72, 6791-yard Woodlake Resort & Golf Club in Pinehurst, N.C., while Barton College (609), which is ranked just outside the top-25 in the NCAA Div. II poll, edged Abilene Christian University (617) and Mt. Olive College (620) for the championship.

The good news for the Scots was that senior Joe Punturi led the team with scores of 81 and 78 (159), tying for 19th-place among the field of 79 individual competitors. Punturi compiled a Wooster-low 76.6 average during 2003-04, but struggled this past fall (82.0).

Fresh off the basketball season, sophomore Andy Van Horn seemed to adjust fine, as he carded an 83 and an 81 for a 164 total, which put him in a tie for 35th, while also scoring on both days for the Fighting Scots was senior Michael Tilden. He shot 87 and 84, which put him in a three-way tie for 50th (171).

Wooster’s other starters were junior Brandon Tylka, who tied for 57th (88-86=174), and freshman Patrick Lynch, who turned in scores of 87 and 88 for a 60th-place tie (175). Additionally, Scot senior Tyler Scott competed as an individual, posting rounds of 86 and 85 for a 171 total.

Wooster will look to bounce back this weekend (March 25-26), as it makes its way back to Ohio for the Muskingum College Invitational.