2001-02 Men's Golf Season Preview
9/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 18, 2001
East Lansing, Mich. - Attitude and determination are two key words when describing the 2001-02 Michigan State men's golf team. After a strong run in the spring of 2001, a run that featured a streak of four consecutive top-five finishes and a near tournament win, the Spartans look to recapture that fire and reestablish themselves among the upper echelon of teams in the Big Ten.
Third year head coach Mark Hankins believes strongly in this year's team.
"College golf is about how good you think you are," says Hankins. He accredits the success of last spring to a change in attitude and feels his players will continue with such confidence.
"We need to get to the NCAA Regionals, that's the main goal," says Hankins.
In order for the Spartans to reach the Regionals, they must finish with a district ranking of sixth or better, a goal the team believes is clearly attainable and undoubtedly will be reached. Another goal of the Spartans is to win a regular season tournament. Last year they came very close as they posted a second-place finish at the Kent State First Energy Collegiate.
Why does this team believe it can achieve greatness? The answer lies within its unrelenting work ethic accompanied by a will to win. Coach Hankins and his team believe hard work, practice and repetition are a must in order to be good. One can count on this team to be well prepared at all times. Coach Hankins believes competition within the team is healthy as it pushes each player to achieve personal bests.
"Every team needs five good players," explained Hankins. "We need five guys playing well to win a golf tournament."
Playing difficult Northern golf courses, which include tougher and harsher conditions, should also forge the Spartans into a better team by the end of the season.
Michigan State returns four lettermen in 2001-02. Co-captain Nathan Clark is the team's lone senior.
Clark is a three-time letterman who brings experience and stability to a relatively young Spartan team. Last year Clark, participated in nine tournaments, including the 2001 Big Ten Championship. He led the team twice with the lowest tournament score.
"Nathan is a leader. Last year, he made a lot of improvement," says Hankins. "His consistency toward the end of the year was quite better. Nathan is always going to give you his best."
As co-captain, Clark likes what he sees in this year's squad. He describes the team as being very tight-knit, which is good for chemistry. He also enters his senior year with high aspirations. "I expect us to go to Regionals this year," says Clark of his team expectations. Clark believes this team is capable of advancing beyond the Regionals and would welcome the challenge of competing at Nationals.
On a personal level, Clark is ready to take off as well. During the summer, he shot two of his lowest rounds.
"I know my game is better than it was last year," said Clark who believes his solid play during the summer will carry over into the season. "I'd like to finish out my career with a really solid year," says Clark who has looked to improve upon each season.
Junior Eric Jorgensen will serve as the team's other co-captain. Jorgensen, a two-year letterwinner, has been a solid contributor each of the last two seasons. Last season, Jorgensen showed consistency in his game as he had one top-10 and three top-20 finishes. Jorgensen, like Clark, harbors the expectations of reaching Nationals.
"Eric physically has improved from last year," says Hankins, who also believes Jorgensen has shown improvement in his technique.
Jorgensen is looking to have a great year individually as well. "I expect a lot out of myself," he said.
John Koskinen enters his junior year after an outstanding sophomore season. Koskinen lead the team with the lowest stroke average at 74.19 in 2000-01.
Coach Hankins is confident that Koskinen will put together another great year.
"He has a real consistent game," Hankins says. "He hits his driver long and straight, has a good mental approach and believes he is a winner."
Junior Lorne Don is looking forward to having a breakthrough season. Don enters the season eager to put together a solid year.
The Spartans' roster features rising sophomores J.J. Beckstrom and Ben Fox.
Beckstrom returns as a letterwinner after putting together a solid spring in 2001. He was one of five Spartans who competed in the 2001 Big Championship. He hopes be more consistent during the 2001-02 campaign.
Fox enters the season with lofty expectation for both the team and himself. He played well over the summer, winning three tournaments. Fox is hopeful that his solid play will carry over into the season.
Freshmen Andrew Ruthkoski and Mark Bixler mark the two new additions to the Michigan State roster. Ruthkoski is from Mona Shores High School in Muskegon, Mich. During his senior year, he led Mona Shores to the state championship with a stroke average of 72.9.
"He knows about winning and is a tough competitor," says Hankins.
Bixler is from Toledo, Ohio, where he attended St. John's Jesuit. While in high school, he was a four-time first-team all-city selection and city league player of the year as a senior.
"He has a good all-around game," remarked Hankins.
The Spartans are expecting big things from the 2001-02 season. They aspire to accomplish greatness. If they are to accomplish greatness, it will be done through attitude and determination.