2008 Woodie Awards
Western Illinois golfers set to host Summit Championships
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Sports
The Western Illinois men's golf team looks to defend its conference title in the Summit League Championships Sunday through Tuesday at the Harry Mussatto Golf Course in Macomb.
The Leathernecks are coming off a tie for seventh place at the Illini Spring Invitational last weekend. Kyle Peterman paced Western with a share of seventh place individually in the tournament.
Leading the attack for the Leathernecks is junior Jared Steger. The Bannockburn, Ill., native leads Western with a stroke average of 74.5 on the season. He joins Peterman in the lead for rounds in the 70s this year with 19 total.
Peterman has solidified a Top 2 spot on the squad with a 75.5 stroke average to go along with a team-best five Top 10 finishes.
"They've both stepped into the roles of one and two this year very well," said coach Mel Blasi. "Jared has been our number one all year, and Kyle has been right on his heels. I believe each of those guys has the opportunity to win individually at the conference championship."
In the three and four roles are Brian Scott and Jason Woll. Scott is the only returning member of last year's conference champion team. He had a season-best third-place finish in the Beu/Mussatto Invitational, April 4-5. Woll has shot 22 rounds this year for the Leathernecks, tied for most on the team and has three Top 15 finishes.
"Brian Scott and Jason Woll have been solid for us," Blasi said. "They each bring some experience being a part of teams from past years."
Shane Kwaterski will play in the fifth spot for Western after winning out a tough battle with teammates for the final team spot in the championships. He had a career-best finish two weeks ago at the Beu/Mussatto, coming in with a share of fifth place.
"Our depth this year has been most impressive to me," Blasi said. "We have seven or eight guys that can all step in and play for us. The final roster came down to the wire this week with who was going to get the fifth spot. That may be our most important spot on the team right now because whoever plays in it really needs to contribute. In our home tournament, it was Shane (Kwaterski) playing and finishing fifth. If we get that kind of play then I think we'll do just fine."
The Leathernecks are coming off a tie for seventh place at the Illini Spring Invitational last weekend. Kyle Peterman paced Western with a share of seventh place individually in the tournament.
Leading the attack for the Leathernecks is junior Jared Steger. The Bannockburn, Ill., native leads Western with a stroke average of 74.5 on the season. He joins Peterman in the lead for rounds in the 70s this year with 19 total.
Peterman has solidified a Top 2 spot on the squad with a 75.5 stroke average to go along with a team-best five Top 10 finishes.
"They've both stepped into the roles of one and two this year very well," said coach Mel Blasi. "Jared has been our number one all year, and Kyle has been right on his heels. I believe each of those guys has the opportunity to win individually at the conference championship."
In the three and four roles are Brian Scott and Jason Woll. Scott is the only returning member of last year's conference champion team. He had a season-best third-place finish in the Beu/Mussatto Invitational, April 4-5. Woll has shot 22 rounds this year for the Leathernecks, tied for most on the team and has three Top 15 finishes.
"Brian Scott and Jason Woll have been solid for us," Blasi said. "They each bring some experience being a part of teams from past years."
Shane Kwaterski will play in the fifth spot for Western after winning out a tough battle with teammates for the final team spot in the championships. He had a career-best finish two weeks ago at the Beu/Mussatto, coming in with a share of fifth place.
"Our depth this year has been most impressive to me," Blasi said. "We have seven or eight guys that can all step in and play for us. The final roster came down to the wire this week with who was going to get the fifth spot. That may be our most important spot on the team right now because whoever plays in it really needs to contribute. In our home tournament, it was Shane (Kwaterski) playing and finishing fifth. If we get that kind of play then I think we'll do just fine."
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