Men's Golf Fall Season Review
11/15/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Nov. 15, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - As the Michigan State men's team continues its mid-season conditioning and preparation, it does not have to look far for motivation. During the fall, the Spartans participated in four tournaments, which included second and fourth-place finishes. As a result, coach Mark Hankins and his team climbed to a ranking of 35th in the nation, its best ever ranking since the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings began. Although Hankins is proud of attaining such a ranking, he refuses to be complacent.
"We are through talking about it," said Hankins of the ranking. "You are only as good as your last tournament and you need to prepare for your next."
Juniors John Koskinen (Baraga, Mich.) and Eric Jorgensen (Big Rapids, Mich.) were the team's leaders during the fall. Jorgensen finished the fall with a 72.6 scoring average while Koskinen posted a 72.9 scoring average.
Freshman Andrew Ruthkoski (Muskegon, Mich.) was a solid contributor in his first three collegiate tournaments with a 74.0 scoring average. Ruthkoski's fall was highlighted by team-low round of 67 at the Adams Cup of Newport.
"I think we had a productive fall," said Hankins. "With improvement we have the potential to win a spring tournament."
Now that the fall is over, Hankins and his squad are preparing for the spring, when they will play in at least seven tournaments, accounting for a majority of their 2001-02 season.
"Our off-season conditioning program will help us achieve more consistent results in the spring," remarked Hankins.