Men's Golf Prepare for Costa Rica Trip
Dec 30, 2013
DUBUQUE, Iowa – The University of Dubuque men’s golfers are looking to leave the frigid cold of the Midwest for the warm sunshine of Costa Rica to kick-off the new year.
The Spartans have been invited to play individually by Beyond Study Abroad, LLC, in events taking place in Valle Del Sol, La Iguana at Los Suenos Resort, and Haciena Pinilla and Reserve Conchol. Head coach Jon Davison and his golfers will depart on January 3 and return January 11, 2014.
Beyond Study Abroad is the first study abroad program designed specifically for college student-athletes! Student-athlete's from colleges across the country fly to Costa Rica to learn Spanish, travel throughout Costa Rica, and coach disadvantaged Costa Rican youth all while maintaining their off-season training.
UD was led this fall by a senior trio, which has given head coach Jon Davison plenty of smiles. Eric Wolfe (Cuba City, Wis./Cuba City Community HS), Martin Odegard (Dubuque, Iowa/Hempstead HS), and Mitchell Sobotta (Arcadia, Wis./Arcadia HS) played seven tournaments and 13 rounds of golf and have helped the Spartans dominate the fall 2013 tournaments taking six first place finishes and one second place finish.
The Spartans are averaging a team score of 293.92. Wolfe has competed in every round and leads the Spartans with low round average of 72.54 (+1 over Par) and placed in the Top-10 in six meets claiming medalist honors twice. Odegard has an average round of 73.69 (+2 over Par) and placed in the Top-10 five times. Sobotta finished the fall with an average of 73.85 (+2 over Par) and placed in the Top-10 in five meets and earned medalist honors once. Not to be overshadowed are Josh Schuberg (Jr., Elburn, Ill./Kaneland HS) 76.08 average and Cameron Shere (Jr., Freeport, Ill./Pecatonica HS) 76.09 average round.
The Spartans scores place them among the best in NCAA Division III. According to the fall 2013 GolfStat Rankings among the Top-25 teams, UD has the third lowest average score, but have played in nearly twice the amount of tournaments compared to the top two score averages. Nationally Claremont Mudd Scripps leads with two tournaments and an average of 286.40. Wittenberg University ranks second with a team average of 293.67 after competing in four tournaments. The Spartans rank third with an average of 293.92 in seven tournaments playing in some adverse fall conditions in 2013.
In Region C play, the Spartans lead by nearly four strokes over second place Illinois Wesleyan’s 297.10 average. UD is the only Region C team from the Iowa Conference to be on the Top-10. Wolfe Leads Region C individually with an average of +1.15 over Par with his best round being a 68, -4 under Par at the Elmhurst College Fall Invitational. He helped the Spartans to claiming the team title with a -3 under Par as a team. Sobotta tied teammate Wolfe with -4 under Par round at Culver’s Edgewood College Fall Classic with a score of 67.
Golf World/Nike Golf Division III Top-25 Poll released on Oct. 16 has listed the Spartans fall season and has UD ranked 23rd in the country.
The spring of 2014, expect to watch the Spartan men’s golf squad compete for their first IIAC team title since 1975 when Jim Kinney claimed medalist honors and Coach of the Year was… Jon Davison.
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