2009-2010 MCC Finish: 4th out of 8
Letterwinners returning/lost: 4/3
Notable returners:
Geoff Dammann So. Wyoming
(80.9 avg., low of 75)
Adriaan de Villiers So. Akasia, South Africa
(79.9 avg., low of 72)
Seb Stobart Jr. Harare, Zimbabwe
(Honorable-mention all-MCC, 76.7 avg., low of 70)
Seth Vernon Sr. Knoxville
(83.7 avg., low of 75)
Notable losses:
Cameron Armitage
(81.5 avg., low of 71)
Mattias Carlsson
(Honorable-mention all-MCC, 78.6 avg., low of 74 twice)
Brent Lurie
(80.0 avg., low of 70)
Notable newcomers:
Zach Chavez Fr. Pasadena, Texas
Sheldon Gryp Fr. Victor
Viktor Heurlin Fr. Stockholm, Sweden
Joe Lennon-Joiner Fr. Buckinghamshire, England
Rutger van Brouwershaven Fr. Johannesburg, South Africa
Bushels of talented youth are ready for the harvest as the William Penn men's golf team seeks league gold in 2010-2011.
The Statesmen were fourth at last spring's Midwest Collegiate Conference Championships and three members of that varsity squad are back on the links to push Penn towards a higher goal of reaching the NAIA Men's Golf National Championships.
Seb Stobart (Jr., Harare, Zimbabwe, St. Georges College) heads the trio after topping the Statesmen with a 76.7 average, including winning the program's home tournament in the spring with a score of one-under 141. Stobart is the team's lone returning all-conference player, earning honorable-mention status.
"Seb was undoubtedly our leader last season and was very consistent," Steinlage said. "He will continue to get better now that he feels comfortable with the courses around the region. I look for him to post some really low scores this year."
Adriaan de Villiers (So., Akasia, South Africa, Akasia HS), Geoff Dammann (So., Wyoming, Midland HS), and Seth Vernon (Sr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) join Stobart as individuals who saw time on varsity a year ago. de Villiers averaged a stroke average of 79.9, while Dammann, who was a tournament medalist in the fall, was a full stroke higher at 80.9. Vernon used an improved spring (79.8 average) to lower his cumulative average to 83.7.
"Adriaan and Geoff got their feet wet last year as freshmen, so I expect them to be ready for what comes their way this season," Steinlage said. "Seth has experience on his side and has a ton of potential. Hopefully he can harness that for his final year."
The coaching staff will have many other returners to pick from as well. Tony Keller (So., Union, BCLUW HS), Will Poterek (Sr., Lee, Ill., Indian Creek HS), Cory Sheeley (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS), and Zach Wesselmann (Jr., Van Meter, Van Meter HS) bolster the squad with experience. Brian Lawson (Sr., Omaha, Neb., Iowa Western CC) returns to Penn after over a year away and will be a strong presence in the spring.
"Any one of these guys has the potential to put together a nice year for us and fight for a varsity slot," Steinlage said.
Members from another solid recruiting class will be seeking their piece of the varsity pie as well, led by a trio of international players.
Viktor Heurlin (Fr., Stockholm, Sweden, Frans Schartau HS), Joe Lennon-Joiner (Fr., Buckinghamshire, England, The Misbourne School), and Rutger van Brouwershaven (Fr., Johannesburg, South Africa, American International School of Johnannesburg) come to Penn from different countries, but all have the same desire to lead the Statesmen to unprecedented success.
"These three young men have spent a lot of time on the links in their lives," Steinlage said. "I expect each of them to make an immediate impact on the team. They will only make us better."
Two Iowans and a Texan headline the class of remaining ‘newbies' that could also have strong campaigns. Sheldon Gryp (Fr., Victor, HLV HS) and Zach Chavez (Fr., Pasadena, Texas, Pasadena Memorial HS) both concluded successful prep careers with postseason recognition and have the tools and maturity to break onto the top five in their first seasons. Evan Thomas (Jr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) has not been in competition for a few years, but has been successful in his links life, tallying five career hole-in-ones.
"I have seen Sheldon play several times and I continue to be impressed by him," Steinlage said. "Zach played against some of the best talent at the big school level in Texas and he will be prepared for the intensity that will come with collegiate golf. Evan is a small kid, but manages to score well every time out."
Fellow area newcomers Dylan Detweiler (Fr., Keota, Keota HS) and Gibb Whitlatch (Fr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) should also add to the competitive mix.
Kevin Wynn (Fr., Albia, Albia HS) will look to learn during a redshirt season.
Schedule/Conference
The Statesmen begin their fall slate on September 11-12 at Hunters Ridge Golf Course in Marion for the Mount Mercy Cropper Classic. Penn also hosts its own tournament on October 11-12 at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside. The tournament will serve as an unofficial preview to the conference tournament which will also be held at Blue Top Ridge next April.
Grand View finally accomplished last year what seemed like impossible for so many seasons as the Vikings won the MCC title, dethroning six-time champ St. Ambrose. The Vikings should again be the favorite after placing sixth at the national meet, while the Fighting Bees will be nipping at their heels in attempts to regain the position on top of the league mountain. Viterbo is another team that Steinlage figures will pose a real threat to determine the conference champion.
"Grand View made a statement last year that they are not just the best team in our conference, but one of the best programs in the entire NAIA," Steinlage said. "They will likely only continue to get better as most of their squad is back and I am sure they also recruited well. Everyone will be chasing them this season."
"Looking on paper, we have the ability to be right in the thick of things when the conference tournament comes around," Steinlage added. "We will again rely on some very young and collegiately-untested players to step up and I feel strongly they will. If our guys can reach their potential, we could have a really fun, exciting, and promising year."
