In just its second season after restarting the program, Pittsburg State’s men’s golf team has qualified for the postseason.
The Gorillas will play Thursday through Saturday in the NCAA Division II Midwest/Central Regional a the Katke Golf Course in Big Rapids, Mich.
The field consists of 10 teams plus four individuals from each region competing in one tournament. After 54 holes, the top-4 teams and top-3 individuals not on a top-4 team qualify for the national tournament.
The Gorillas are the No. 6 seed from the Central Region.
“We’re happy that we are able to do that,” PSU coach Nick Long said. “But with that being said, we still have some goals in mind that we would like to go up there and accomplish. Who knows, maybe we have a really good week and we’re fortunate enough to qualify for the national tournament.”
The Gorillas’ six-man team consists of senior Mason White, sophomore Jack Randall, sophomore Tyler Hardtarfer, freshman David Hobart, sophomore Cooper Forth and junior Bradin Stahl. Five play each day, and the lowest four scores determine the team score.
White has a 74.5 stroke average for 32 rounds and earned all-MIAA recognition.
Other stroke averages are Hardtarfer 74.6 for 32 rounds, Randall 76.5 for 17 rounds, Forth 77.7 for seven rounds, Hobart 77.9 for 21 rounds and Stahl 79.7 for 12 rounds.
Keaton Thissen, a junior, suffered a wrist injury during the MIAA Tournament and won’t play this week. He averaged 76.1 for 28 rounds.
“The guys have worked hard,” Long said. “Their ability to focus on the little things and do the things the coaching staff has asked them to do is crucial. Not looking too far ahead and not dwelling on the past, just staying focused on the present and making sure that we take care on what we need to in the moment.”
The Gorillas played a practice round on Wednesday, and they have the last five tee times for Thursday’s first round, starting at 12:42. With temperatures expected in the mid-50s, the Gorillas welcome the late tee times.
“We’re pretty fortunate that we’re going to be getting out there when the weather is as warm as it’s going to be,” Long said. “There are some schools that start at 7:30, so it’s going to be cold for them. We got lucky there for sure.”
There are five more MIAA schools representing the Central Region, led by champion Central Oklahoma. Also entered are Central Missouri, Washburn, Missouri Western and Arkansas-Fort Smith along with Harding, Arkansas Tech and Arkansas Tech from the Great American Conference and Winona State from the Northern Sun Conference.
Cooper Schenck of Fort Hays State and Nathan Biais of Northeastern State are individual entries.
Grand Valley State is the No. 1 team from the Midwest Region, followed by Findlay, Missouri S&T, Missouri-St. Louis, Rockhurst, Ferris State, Davenport, Tiffin, Wayne State and Hillsdale.
