Men’s Golf sets sights on National Championship

"Watch out for UCCS," read a local newspaper headline near Western Washington University leading up to the Division II National Golf tournament last spring.

While UCCS did not come out with a win, Coach Phil Trujillo explained that, "The guys that played know exactly what went wrong." UCCS is currently ranked 14th in NCAA Division II Golf thanks to a strong finish last fall, and the spring season may bring another opportunity for a championship.

Newly acquired transfer Michael Tilghman from UC-San Diego may help make the dream of a National Championship a reality. Trujillo expects him to consistently be in the top five this spring.

Junior Riley Andrews hopes this year can be different as well, saying, "I want to be the individual national champion. I believe that you show up to a tournament to win, to be the best; to do anything less than that is to limit your potential."

His team goals are similarly ambitious. "Our team goal is very simple as well: National Champions. We have every opportunity to win a national championship."

The Mountain Lions set themselves up nicely this past fall, climbing into the 8th spot in the national rankings. Despite the great success, UCCS is hungry for more. "There still are seven teams that are ranked better than us," Andrews explained. "We want to be the best. That's what we live for."

With a winter that hasn't produced very much precipitation, the Mountain Lions have been able to get out on the golf course periodically to keep their skills sharp. However, when the snow does come, Trujillo explained that the team still works at becoming better. "The team has a workout that we do together and it focuses on building our core and balance," he said.  "It's designed for golfers but we step it up a notch and we work extremely hard in the weight room."

"Our workouts can only help us to be physically fit on those 36-hole days and help immensely with our mental stamina and focus," Andrews said. "There is no question in my mind that we will be ready for our first tournament in mid-March."

The spring season meets are in Arizona and California, which means warmer weather and thicker air. Andrews added, "Lower altitude golf is a little different for us than high altitude golf. The ball doesn't travel nearly as far at lower altitudes as it does at the elevation of Colorado Springs." Trujillo said he reminded his golfers that, "The club selection is key and making sure you do the math before you hit the shot is important."

With the season coming up, Trujillo said the golfers are ready to hit the greens. Spring is the time to reveal the secrets of how winter was spent. Stay tuned for updates on the men's golf team as they attempt to compete for a national championship this spring. u