Story by: Maryam Hawari, Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy Cypress Chargers Athletic Website
The Cypress College men’s golf team placed third with a score of 302 after a standout performance at the Navy Seal Beach home event on Monday, March 9.
Ian Shahwan led the team with a remarkable score of 73. He was joined by teammates Aden Henry, who scored 75, and both Teegan Cole and Dino Torres, who each shot 77.
As well as their placement, College of the Desert became tournament champions with a score of 292, featuring the efforts of Linus Utter, and Logan Marra with 72.
The team came close to overtaking their competitors, Victory Valley College, finishing just two shots behind.
The team has created a positive atmosphere through their collective chemistry.
“There’s a lot of chemistry, and everyone likes each other,” Cole, a freshman player, said.
In his first collegiate tournament, Cole placed 17th out of 50 players. While satisfied with his performance, he acknowledged there is still room for improvement.
Cole said that boosting his self-confidence would be key to overcoming challenges and bouncing back during future competitions.
The mental aspect of the game also played a significant role in Cole’s performance, “I think it’s believing that I’m good enough to perform at a high level.”
Head coach, Brad Pickler, emphasized the importance of staying mentally prepared for the season, “We got good golfers, so if they golf to their abilities, we will be able to maintain the winning from last year.”
It is important for this team to stay committed to their post-season goals.
“(We are) trying to be conference champions,” Pickler said.
