From start to finish, the Moraine Valley Community College golf team played consistently on the links, even after a long break from the fall to spring.

 

The golf season culminated its first half in October with a third place finish in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference after some fierce competition. It all came down to the final match when the Cyclones missed second place by less than one stroke. Freshman Joey Charleston (Chicago Christian) finished as the No. 8 golfer in conference with a 77 average while sophomore Matthew Pawyza (Lockport) was No. 10, averaging 79.75.

 

After a few months away from any tournaments, the Cyclones reconvened in April for the Melee in Morris and finished sixth. Freshman Rory Moran (Lincoln-Way East) tied for third place overall out of 66 golfers after scoring a season-low of 72. Roughly a week later, the Cyclones spent three days at the PrairieView Golf Club in Byron, Ill., for the NJCAA Region 4 Golf Championship, where they took 10th in a contentious field to end the season. Rainy and windy weather pushed scores higher than usual, but the Cyclones were able to steadily improve their performance.

 

"Our team score improved every day, which wasn't too bad considering none of the guys ever played on that course before the tournament," said Head Coach Matt Lovelace, who concluded his 10th season leading the program.

 

The Cyclones were led by lone sophomore, Pawyza, and boasted a talented roster with reliable swings and steady skills. The players consistently improved and faced tough competition during every match, but they continually discovered different routes to success. 

 

"The golf season went fairly well, overall," Lovelace noted. "We felt we could have finished stronger, but golf can be an unpredictable game at times." 

 

Unlike some past squads, the Cyclones expect more players to return than usual, including Dominick Rallo (Hinsdale South), Anderson Miz (Stagg), Fionn Gormley (Tinley Park), Tayler Schade (Oak Forest) and Moran. They also have two new players joining the team – one from Lincoln-Way and another from Argo high schools. Each should be a strong addition to the squad and make an immediate impact.

 

"With our returning experience and incoming talent, we're in a great position and should be looking very strong heading into the fall season," Lovelace added.