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.