This weekend the University of Dallas Crusader Golf team will kick off their season by traveling to Georgetown, TX to take on Southwestern University in a head to head match. Going into the match, second year head coach Jarred Samples admits that there are still many questions that remain unanswered about his team, but still is optimistic about their chances for success.

The biggest obstacle that the team will have to overcome this year is the loss of two of last year’s top performers. Both 2008-2009 team MVP Ryan Tewell, and NEAC 2nd team performer Ryan Hogue will not be returning to the team this year. Their departure leaves two spots open in the lineup, and as of yet the team is still searching for players who are capable of stepping up to the challenge of replacing the two.

The core of the squad consists of three seniors: Cory Grant (Mesa, AZ/Red Mountain H.S.), Kyle Callahan (Prairie Village, KS/Rockhurst H.S.) and Brady Bulmanski (Batesville, AR/Batesville H.S.). All three were letter winners last season, and have at times shown that they have the ability to perform at a very high level. Last season Bulmanski posted the team’s lowest score over 18 holes, while Grant earned 3rd team all-NEAC at the conference tournament.

The team has several newcomers this year looking to step up into the starting lineup. Most notably is the addition of three female golfers: Alexandria Ferguson (Great Falls, VA/Oakcrest H.S.), Allison Gose (Lufkin, TX/Lufkin H.S.), and Chelsea Nabors (El Paso, TX/Loretto Academy). Also joining the team are seniors Andrew Oswik (Doylestown, PA/Holy Ghost Preparatory) and Clay Evans (Richardson, TX/Richardson H.S.), and freshman Mike Leonard (Phoenix, AZ/Veritas Preparatory). The sole returning sophomore is Colin Puthoff (West Lake Hills, TX/Home School).

Although he is not playing for the team this year, Ryan Tewell will join coach Samples and will serve as the team’s assistant coach. Coach Tewell looks to bring his playing experience to the team, and has already spent hours on the course with them. Even at this early time, he has proved himself to be just as valuable to them as a coach as he was as a player last year.

In addition to this weekend’s dual meet in Georgetown, TX, the golf team will participate in two tournaments this semester. The first will be the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor Fall Intercollegiate Invitational on October 4 in Salado, TX. The final tournament is the USCAA Championships in Virginia on October 12.

Kyle Callahan

The golf team was formed in 1959 under Coach Pat O'Connor. The team took a break in the late eighties but has been going strong since 1993 when Coach Jim Jackson reformed the team. Highlights for he program came in 2001 when the team set a school record for most wins for a season, and in 2003 when they had the highest win percentage in school history. In 2008-09 the team set 2 records (low round and low 2 round), competed in the NEAC Championships in Cazenovia, NY, placed 3 individuals on the NEAC all-conference teams, won 1 dual meet, and took home first place in the 6 team Utica College Tournament.

Traditionally, the team has mainly competed in meets held within the state of Texas, but they do travel out of state on occasion, heading to the likes of MO, AR, and NY for tournaments.

This year, the team is an associate member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC). They will compete in the 2009 NEAC Golf Championships on April 23-24 in Cazenovia, New York.

Jarred Samples currently leads one of the largest golf teams in UD history. Coach Samples can be reached at 972-721-5028.

The UD golf team is proud to announce they are a 2 year associate member of the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) starting in the spring of 2009.

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