By CONNOR GRAY, Assistant Editor
Northwestern’s golf teams are full of experienced golfers and continue to improve as the season goes on.
Northwestern is currently in the non-championship season, and has been competing in fall tournaments to prepare and see where the team is at for the championship season next semester.
The teams play in four tournaments, the men have participated in three tournaments and the women have participated in two so far.
The team’s totals have been going down with each tournament, from where they were to start the season.
Logan Johnson, Cade Seymour and Keenan Hofstead are leading the way for the men’s team, as each of them have played in each tournament.
Johnson leads the men’s team with 221 total strokes in three rounds in the first two tournaments, giving him an average of nearly 74 strokes per round.
Seymour had 228 strokes in the first tournament, and lowered his total to 224 in the next tournament.
Hofstead had 222 strokes in the first tournament, but faltered in the next with 237.
Men play three rounds of golf, while the women typically play two rounds.
Samantha Friday and Madison Masch have been battling for the title of the best golfer on the women’s team, as each of them put up strong numbers through two tournaments.
Friday had 169 strokes in the first tournament, but dropped it down to 158 in the next tournament.
Masch tallied up 161 strokes in the first tournament and 164 strokes in the next tournament.
The first four tournaments determine where teams are at, and to see if they are going to be top 10 regionally.
“We’re in these tournaments to win, but also improve as we go into the next semester,” said Timothy Lauderdale, the head coach of the golf teams.
Assistant coach David Rogers has been working with the men and women on their short game, improving on putting, chip shots and accuracy.
“With golf, the game is truly played from inside 150 yards,” Rogers said. “There will always be challenging long shots, but where we will separate ourselves is with short game.”
Lauderdale is happy with the teams so far, as they have been able to drop their stroke totals individually and as a team.
The next tournament will be the Ranger Invite in Enid Oct. 18 and 19.
The men last won the tournament in 2018, and the women have won it three times since Lauderdale has been here at Northwestern.