As fall weather approaches and the sun begins to hide more, the Asbury men and women’s golf teams are trying to find the bright side.
The teams have finished in the top three in all tournaments of this fall. Junior Faith Wiley and senior Hannah McCrabb clenched first and second overall in the Alice Lloyd College Invitational for the women’s team. Wiley snagged another overall first place win at the River States Conference preview.
Junior Victor Vargas remarked on how coronavirus has changed the vibe of tournament play.
“Tournaments are very different because we are not pairing with other players from other universities,” said Vargas. “Instead of that I play with my teammates and it feels like a practice round and not a tournament.”
As the U.S. lockdown began to ease, golf was a very popular outdoor option for getting out of the house. Not all of the players at Asbury had that COVID-19 luxury like junior Marcos Ezcurra.
“I went back home (Argentina) during this summer and I couldn’t leave my house for four months so I couldn’t practice golf at all because of the lockdown,” said Ezcurra. “So yes, COVID really bothered me for quite some time. However, it gave me time to think and to motivate myself for the upcoming year and in many ways, it helped me because it gave more room for my mental preparation.”
Less tournament play and more involvement in local tournaments has been the norm this fall amid COVID-19 restrictions. The hope is to have a more regular schedule by spring.
“Being a senior, I am just trying to take every day of practice or competition as a blessing,” said McCrabb. “Since we lost last spring, I am just happy we can play this year. We will do whatever it takes to play the game we love.”
The team is also eager for the opening new golf area in Luce Center. Funding for the golf area is currently underway.
The Eagles golf teams will round out their fall season at the Huntington University Invitational on Oct. 26-27 in Jasper, Indiana.
