Golf shooting high after heart-breaking end to 2004
By Jared Bell
IV Leader Sports Editor
Coach Mike Riley has one thing on his mind for this year’s IVCC golf team. And that is to get to a place his team fell one stroke of getting to last year: the national tournament.
Last year the IVCC golf team tied for first place in the Region IV Tournament with Black Hawk College. To break the tie and decide a team champion who would go onto the national tournament, five players from both sides took to the course to play a one-hole playoff. Each side took their team’s four best scores and whoever had the lowest cumulative score won.
After the first playoff hole, both teams were still tied and a second playoff hole was needed. Unfortunately IVCC lost the hole and the title by one stroke.
This year Riley doesn’t want to finish second.
“I think the team goal is always to do well at every invitational, but at the end of the year, it’s to qualify for the national tournament,” Riley said. “We tied for first last year at Region IV and lost on second hole playoff, and this year we want to go to nationals. (Last year) we lost by a shot. It was heart-breaking to our team.”
While the Region IV tournament is over a month away, this year’s IVCC team has already made a major statement. At the Black Hawk Invitational on September 1, IVCC defeated Black Hawk — who has most all of their kids back from last year’s team and will be nationally ranked — and the rest of the competition, which included nationally ranked Illinois Central College and St. Ambrose.
“We went in there and opened up some eyes,” Riley said. “We have the potential to win the Region and send the team to the national tournament. Right know we have a good chance of breaking into the top 20 (in the national ranking) with that win.”
This year’s team has been paced by freshman Adam Winans. Winans, who is from Lakeland, Ind., was one of only 15 All-Staters in Indiana last year and Riley said he has lived up to his expectations.
“Adam’s potential is unlimited. He doesn’t know how good he can be and neither do I,” Riley said. “He has a great short game and he uses his head out there and usually doesn’t make any poor decision, which is a big thing in golf. With his short game he is always going to be around even-par, which is going to give you a chance to win tournament.”
At the Blackhawk tournament he finished third shooting a one-under 70 He was three-under until he ran into trouble on the last couple of holes.
Returning sophomore Derrick Sherard from Roncelli, Ind., was one of three players who went to the national tournament last year in Alabama. He will play at No. 2 spot. He went as an individual and not apart of the team and Riley thinks that will only benefit him.
“I think he would be very disappointed not to get to nationals,” Riley said. “I think he wants to go back and prove he can do better than he did last year. Working on his short game and that’s probably his weakness right now, but his strength is off the tee and his accuracy. I think he is going to be another strong player and someone you can count on throughout the year.”
Another returning sophomore is Todd Greskoviak, who graduated from Fieldcrest High School. He will play at the No. 3 spot and also went to nationals and Riley thinks his experience will help the team.
“Todd is going to give us that experience in the lineup. He has played all the invitationals last year,” Riley said. “He is long off the tee. He is kind of a John Daly for us. He is a grip it and rip it player. He attacks the golf course and tries to get birdies.”
After that the final two spots are up in the air. Freshman Chris Coleman from Putnam County, freshman Brandon Smith from Mendota, freshman Matt Morse from Fieldcrest, freshman Patrick Quinn from Streator, freshman Kyle Fogle from Putnam County and freshman Cody Scerine from Coal City all have the chance to play their way into a top 5 spot.
“I think the depth is a key part,” Riley said. “If you’re playing with four or five kids, they’re not going to push you. Here, if you’re not playing well, I’ve got someone else pushing and fighting to get in there and show what they can do. The depth has made us better.”