Sorena Dadgar
Junior David Cooke drives on the 18th hole at the Wolfpack Spring Open on Sunday afternoon. Cooke was the overall champion of the tournament with a score of -10 and the Wolfpack finished first with -17 at Lonnie Poole Golf Course on Sunday.
The NC State men’s golf team returns to action Feb. 21 in the Puerto Rico Classic after completing a phenomenal year of golf in 2015.
The first half of the season resulted in the Pack picking up five top-five finishes in all five tournaments, and the team ended the season with three top-three finishes.
The golf team has been spectacular in Raleigh, thanks to the performances of the Wolfpack freshmen who have put together many impressive performances so far this season.
They seem to play with no fear, and it’s no surprise that the team ranks No. 2 in the nation in Golfstat’s Freshman Class Impact Ranking.
This is a group of golfers who does not rely on individual talent, which is one of the reasons why it has been able to play as well as it has. The golfers count on each other and support each other, and it is this internal connectedness that has propelled them to respectable finishes in all five tournaments this season.
The one thing missing is a first-place finish, and the Pack will have six more tournaments in 2016 to claim the elusive top spot.
In order for this to occur, the team will have to play with more consistency than the first half of the season. This is something NC State has already done well, but it could be better. Senior and co-captain David Cooke struggled early, but has since grown into his game. Freshman Stephen Franken also improved as the season developed.
With underclassmen and upperclassmen all playing at a high level, this is a team to be scared of. It has proven its worth in 2015, but half the season remains for it to demonstrate that it can continue to play good golf.
The two-month break has been productive for the Pack, as three new additions have been made to this young team. This includes two South Carolinians, Christian Salzer and Dwight Cauthen, and Benjamin Shipp out of Georgia.
Now the team must turn its focus on 2016, starting with the Puerto Rico Classic which begins on Feb. 21. This three-day tournament will no doubt test the Wolfpack, as it will be up against tough competition.
Through five tournaments in 2015, the Pack faced three top-25 opponents. This tournament alone features seven schools in the top 25.
Puerto Rico looms large, but with the way the golfers have been playing, they will be entering the tournament looking to prove that they indeed can hang with the best.