After a disappointing end to its previous season, the Mizzou men’s golf team teed it up at the Turning Stone-Tiger Intercollegiate behind standout performances from underclassmen and came out victorious. The tournament took place Sept. 6 and 7 in Verona, New York.
The underclassmen fought off nerves to begin the tournament. Freshman Preston Fleenor was 4 over par after his first 10 holes, but he quickly settled down and found his rhythm leading to his second place, 3-under-par finish.
“I knew if I could start off strong then I could get myself in a rhythm and play well,” Fleenor said. “I was able to start off consistent and never put too much pressure on myself to make any crucial shots or crucial putts.”
Sophomore Hayden Buckley also shot 3-under, adding to the youthful performance that led the Tigers’ collective effort.
Redshirt senior Wilson Sundvold, son of Mizzou All-American basketball player Jon Sundvold, set the team up for success early, shooting 7-under-par for the first two rounds. Although he struggled toward to end of the tournament, Sundvold closed out the tournament on a strong note with a top-10 finish.
However, it was the underclassmen who stepped up in the final round and carried the team to its fourth consecutive win at Turning Stone. Both Buckley and Fleenor played their best rounds of golf on the final day of the tournament, and their finishes helped secure a Tiger victory.
“It’s tough for freshmen to come in and play the first tournament, but they’ve kind of established themselves as contenders for our top five,” Buckley said. “I think we have a lot of depth this year, so it’s great to see young guys coming in.”
After failing to make the cut for the postseason last year and finishing second to last in the Southeastern Conference, the Tigers are determined to climb the ranks of the conference and prove that they can compete with the best. That mission began by preparing for Turning Stone and making sure the team started off with a win to kick off the season to set the tone for the rest of the year.
Having underclassmen such as Buckley and Fleenor rise to the occasion early on in the season is a good sign for the team in regards to its aspirations. After losing All-American senior Ryan Zech, Mizzou is looking to fill the void left in his wake and begin developing new talent on the roster.
“It obviously means a lot (to have an impact) as a freshman,” Fleenor said. “You’re not expecting to help or completely lead the team. You’re expecting to help yourself through one or two rounds to help the team and contribute in case someone falls.”
With the help of the team’s veterans, the underclassmen are taking the guidance they receive to improve as quickly as possible.
“Everybody was able to help us, we’ve never played the course before and they were able to help us in the practice rounds and help us adjust to the course,” Fleenor said. “When we’re all on the same page, we can play that course and we can play it well, that’s a big part of why we did so well now and in the past.”
With a win under their belts, the Tigers are setting their sights on the Jackrabbit Invitational in Valentine, Nebraska on Sept. 26. For the underclassmen, they will get more experience going up against schools such as Arizona State, Oregon and Texas A&M. Although they will face formidable squads, the Tigers feel optimistic heading into the tournament.
“We’ve just got to believe that we can compete with (other schools),” Buckley said. “We’ve put in the time and the practice, I like our chances. I think golf is a game where anything can happen.”
