After a long season filled with highs and lows starting all the way back in September, the Colgate University Men’s Golf season will finally come to a close after competing in the Patriot League Championship.
The team’s roster is fairly young, comprised of one junior, five sophomores and two first-years, so this season has been invaluable for the team to gain experience as they continue to develop. While there is room to grow, the first-years have already proven themselves to be valuable assets to the team, adding to the team’s potential.
Though golf may be thought of traditionally as an individual sport, the team dynamics of college golf help players like sophomores Bryaden Dock and Jamison Bryant to be in a supportive, tight-knit environment that also pushes them to excel.
“College golf is definitely a change in mindset when it comes to the team portion of it. All of us are pulling for each other out there, sometimes all it takes is a little pump up from the teammate playing in front of you to swing the momentum of your round in a good direction,” Dock said.
The competitive atmosphere also helps to motivate players.
“In order to succeed you have to set a standard for yourself and meet it every day. It’s fun and challenging being on the team with some other really good players always trying to beat you,” Bryant said.
Practices normally consist of playing on courses in the area while also utilizing an indoor practice room with two bays and a putting green during the winter. Simulating situations and positional putting work can all be expected. While tournaments are played on different courses, preparation is largely consistent across the season, but it does not take much to motivate the team to practice.
“I think the love of the game is why we enjoy it so much and it’s really not a convincing thing to tell people to practice,” Freedman said.
The transition between practicing indoors to playing outdoors for the spring season can be difficult to adjust to at first, but, as the season goes on, players gain experience and improve throughout the year.
“[The season] certainly had its ups and downs, but I did find some success last fall with a win at Bucknell, along with some solid finishes this spring, giving me some confidence going into Patriot Leagues,” Dock said.
Even if tournaments did not go exactly as planned, players can still take away valuable lessons and use them as learning experiences to grow from.
“At the Carpetbagger [tournament] this year, we were in a great position to win going into the last day. Unfortunately we didn’t close it out, but that experience is something I hated and I know my teammates feel the same way. Using that as fuel is definitely going to help us going forward especially at the Patriot League Championship,” Bryant said.
As the season closes, players have reflected on their growth and the far-reaching impacts of being on the team.
“I’ve made friends for life and been around people I genuinely enjoy growing with, both as golfers and as people. Colgate Golf means being part of something bigger than yourself, where you’re constantly pushed to improve while representing the team,” Dock said.
“[Golf] has given me a group of brothers, and a mentor I’ll have for the rest of my life. The golf team means everything to me,” Bryant said. “It has been nothing short of a blessing and a dream come true.”
The 54-hole Patriot League Championship begins on April 25, and given the culmination of all their past tournaments, the team believes they have what it takes to secure a victory.
