Kyle Keck | Echo
The Taylor men's golf team penciled in a season-best round score during the NAIA Classic at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.
The Trojans ended the round with a score of 302, giving them a two-day total of 626 and a 14th place finish. TU's blazing final round shaved 22 shots from its first round score. The second round score of 302 ranked as the seventh best round of the day and placed Taylor above the four other Crossroads League teams for the day.
"During the first round we caught a bit of a bad break with the weather," head coach Cam Andry said. "We ended up playing the most difficult stretch of holes when the wind was howling. We made some big numbers during that stretch and we just weren't able to recover in the first round. In the second round we just played solid, smart golf and that allowed us to shoot a much better score."
The unfavorable weather in the first round not only affected the Trojans, but the course as well. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's Brickyard Crossing Golf Course lived up to its name by moving the speed from the concrete to the green.
"I think the most surprising thing about the course were the greens," freshman Mitch Lamping said. "You couldn't really get anything to stop and hold on the greens, even after it rained. They were firm, which made it tough to access some of the pins."
Along with Taylor's season-best round, the freshmen contribution continued at the meet. The freshman trio led Taylor in the second round with a score of 73 from Lamping, 74 from Nick Waskom and 77 from Trey Turner. Waskom's performance earned him a 15th place individual finish out of the 93-player field with a two-day total of 150 (+6). Lamping was next on the ballot with his 157 (+13) score, placing in a tie for 40th.
Although the greens came as a surprise to Lamping, the consistent freshmen outings are no shock to Andry.
"I've been pleased with how the young guys have performed," Andry said. "They have been playing solid golf and our older guys have helped to build and maintain a culture that allows for freshmen to come in and succeed. I'm excited to see us build upon our good play."
The Trojans will tee off again today at the Blackthorn Gold Club in South Bend, Ind., for the Battle at Blackthorn hosted by Bethel College.Photograph provided by TU Sports Information
