The Goshen College men’s golf team kicked off their fall season with the Defiance College Fall Invitational in Ohio on Sept. 18.
Ben Pollitt, a first-year from Helsby, England and the sole member of Goshen’s golf team, finished 35th overall. Though he played golf in England, this was Pollitt’s first match in the United States. According to coach Allison Bailey, although this wasn’t Pollitt’s best round, “He learned a lot and knows what to build on.”This is also Bailey’s first year at Goshen. She previously worked as a golf professional, giving lessons at the Elkhart Country Club. While making a transition herself, Bailey is working to help Pollitt get acclimated. She wants to work with him on his golf skills not only so that he can improve but also so that he can help future first-years coming to the team. Bailey hopes to eventually have eight players on the team, and encourages any interested students to contact her.
In addition to the men’s team, Bailey has formed a women’s golf team for next fall. Cleared by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, the new team has attracted the attention of at least one current Goshen student. Austin Van, a sophomore, plans to play for the women’s golf team next year, and Bailey hopes to gain at least seven more players.
Bailey summed up her goals by saying, “We’re trying to build up the teams and get them to where they can compete for conference titles.”
Pollitt is expected to compete this Saturday at the Manchester College Invite in North Manchester, Ind.
