UNC men's golf performs above par in tournament

Among rain, lower temperatures and high winds, senior Michael McGowan said it feels like every time North Carolina’s men’s golf team enters a tournament, some obstacle is thrown its way.

The Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate match Monday and Tuesday in Awendaw, S.C. — where the Tar Heels finished sixth at 27-over-par — only offered more support for his theory.

“The first day the winds were probably going at 30 miles per hour the entire day, and today it was probably 15 or 20 miles per hour, so that’s tough when you’re trying to get a little ball in the hole,” he said.

But if there is one skill that the Tar Heels have been forced to exemplify all season, it’s patience. And it was that patience that led them to a sixth place finish behind five ranked teams.

“We really just take it one stroke at a time and commit to every shot you’re getting ready to hit and try to control the flight of your golf ball so it doesn’t get knocked down by the wind too badly,” coach Andrew Sapp said.

“I was really proud of how hard our guys fought this week in the tough conditions. They fought really hard and played well.”

The team finished ahead of five teams ranked in the top 50, including conference foe No. 23 Clemson.

McGowan and teammate Andy Sajevic tied for seventh place among all golfers, each finishing 3-over-par, an accomplishment that Sapp was proud of.

“It would be easy to make some big numbers on holes out there, and they for the most part managed not to do that,” Sapp said.

“They birdied today when they had opportunities to make birdies. That was what we needed, and to be able to see two guys finish in the top 10, that was kind of one of our goals.”

Sajevic said growing up in Nebraska prepared him for the less-than-optimal weather conditions that so many golfers are forced to adjust to.

Though he admitted it was not the squad’s best showing, he said it was his team’s love for the game that allowed each competitor to step up in his own way.

“You just have to enjoy being out there, and I thought all five of us did a great job of having a positive attitude and playing some good golf.”

McGowan said his seventh-place performance was bitter sweet and that he too, felt that the score did not reflect the caliber of his team’s play.

“Looking back on it, you can take a lot of positives out of it but — how I feel right now kind of — in golf you can always do better, and that’s kind of how I feel,” he said.

“I didn’t make the putts I needed to. First place was right there. I’m not taking that away from (N.C. State’s) Logan (Harrell), who ended up winning. He shot a fair round today, but if I make a couple more putts or finish a little better everyday, that’s top five and then maybe first place.”

Contact the desk editor at sports@dailytarheel.com.