Despite finishing 11th of 11 teams earlier this week at the Flyer Invitational, positive takeaways are abound for Bradley men’s golf.
“I see improvement between each player,” head coach Jeff Roche said. “Obviously it hasn’t really correlated yet as far as complete team scores … We’ve got a long ways to go, but we’re starting to see [good] things.”
The invitational, hosted by Dayton, was played at NCR Country Club, a course that held the 1969 PGA Championship, the 1986 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2005 U.S. Senior Open.
“That’s a really good, tough golf course, and every course we’ve played this fall is really good,” Roche said. “It’s testing the guys, at a point where we’re still learning and being tested at the same time. It’ll pay off down the road.”
Redshirt-senior Alex Ciaramitaro once again led the way for the Braves, finishing in 26th with a three-round score of 12-over-par, highlighted by a first round 73.
“He’s had to accept the leadership role, and he’s done a really nice job,” Roche said. “He’s capable of shooting some low rounds, and I think it’s coming.”
Freshman Josh Kirkham turned in the best three round score of the season, finishing second on the team with a score of 227, 14-over-par. Freshman Nick Armbrust also posted a career best, carding a three-round score of 239.
The invite was highlighted by a third-round team score of 306, in which every Brave turned in a score in the 70s.
While competing at a high level in tournaments is a priority, Roche is making sure the big picture is kept in mind.
“It’s easy to get caught up in results,” Roche said. “Results are important, because that’s how you’re measured at every tournament, but you have to look for personal bests… I guess that’s my job, to keep [the team] motivated, and understand that we’re doing the right things and it just takes some time.”
Bradley will head to the Little Rock Invitational for their final tournament of the fall season on Monday and Tuesday.
“Our goal right now is to start getting some rounds under 300 as a team and go from there,” Roche said. “We just need to get everybody playing to where they’re capable, and the results will take care of themselves.”
With winter quickly approaching, the Braves are focused on their own scores, rather than the competitions.
“Our term has been control your own controllables,” Roche said. “[Golf] is not like basketball, where you’re going to go up against [competition] who’s 6 [foot] 8 [inches] and can jump through the roof and is stronger than you, we don’t have to worry about that. All we can do is what we do, and if it happens to be a lower score than the other teams’, then it works out.”
