BY IAN SMITH, Courier sports writer
May 20, 2008 01:03 am
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OTTUMWA — Indian Hills is treating the 2008 NJCAA Division I National Tournament just like any other golf tournament.
Sure, it’s a cliché, but it might work.
The Warriors are one of the hottest teams in the country heading into the four-day event, which starts today. With three straight wins, why change anything? Indian Hills is one of the favorites to bring home the national title in Huntsville, Ala.
“These guys have to be confident, I think. I know I’m confident,” Indian Hills coach Mike Hagen said. “We’ve won our last three tournaments, I don’t remember if that’s ever happened to me. Especially with the way we’ve manhandled people in winning them.”
The stats speak to Indian Hills’ dominant play. The Warriors’ win streak started with a 28-stroke victory at the William Jewell Invite in Liberty, Mo. on April 9-11. The results got even better a week later when Indian Hills hosted the Community 1st Credit Union Spring Invitational. The Warriors’ Maroon team carded a 36-hole total of 584 to win the tournament. The Indian Hills Gold team finished in second place with a 611 to give the Warriors a one-two finish.
Indian Hills then traveled to the District III Tournament in Gothenburg, Neb. wanting to keep its win streak alive. Not only did the Warriors do that, they blew out the field. Indian Hills aced the competition by a whopping 26 strokes.
In hopes of keeping the momentum going this week, Hagen and the Warriors stuck to their daily routine.
“I kept it all the same — I did not change a thing,” Hagen said. “The past few years, I’ve mixed it up. The way I see it is, I've kept everything the same this year because I don’t want the kids to think about it. I think the less they think about it, the more it’s just another golf tournament.”
One key to Indian Hills’ success this season is balance up and down the lineup. Any of the five Warrior players are capable of carding the low round of the day. At the district tournament, Indian Hills finished with three players in the top five overall.
The name atop the leaderboard was Steven McGlynn. The Lancashire, England native is making himself right at home in the winner’s circle. McGlynn matched the Warriors three-tournament win streak with one of his own.
In his three wins, McGlynn averaged under 71 strokes per round.
“This is probably the best I’ve ever stroked it,” McGlynn said. “When I was back home, I didn’t concentrate on the long game as much. It was more chipping and putting. But since I came over here, Coach has helped me strike it better.”
McGlynn and Hagen attributed the freshman’s rise to his distinctive shot-making ability. When McGlynn first arrived in Ottumwa, he was used to hitting a low trajectory shot he played on the links style courses back in England. Over the winter, Hagen worked with him on hitting the ball higher.
Now, McGlynn can hit every shot he needs too.
“It will be interesting to see how he does down there,” Hagen said. “He’s on fire.”
Today’s first round won’t be the first time McGlynn and the rest of the Indian Hills bunch see the course in Alabama. During their fall season, the Warriors played there in the NJCAA Division I National Championship Preview, finishing fourth with a 900 after 72 holes.
The familiarity could play a big role in Indian Hills’ title dreams. The unique par 72 course will play around 7,200 yards for the tournament. There are a lot of water hazards the Warriors will have to contend with, but zero bunkers.
The greens are also difficult because of there severe undulation. Hagen said hitting approach shots beneath the hole and putting uphill is key this week.
“I think playing the course in the fall helped quite a bit,” sophomore Nate Smith said. “It’s different than any course we've played. The greens are real undulated and they are real tricky. I think it will play in our advantage playing down there last fall.”
In their last trip to the Huntsville course, Chris Dougill and Jake Weeber led the Warriors by both carding a 223. Eric Anfinson finished with a 227, Smith a 231 and McGlynn a 238. The same five will tee off for Indian Hills this morning.
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