October 29, 2021
KCC golfers looking to spring forward
The Kirkwood men's golf team enjoyed a successful fall campaign by winning four tournaments and breaking two school records along the way.
Coach Darin Pint thinks the Eagles could enjoy another special season this spring if two more golfers on his roster are able to make major contributions along with the "Big 3" of JD Pollard, Brandon McCarty, and Kolby Shackelford.
It will take a full team of five excellent golfers to make a serious run at the NJCAA Division II national tournament this spring.
There are several good candidates for the 4 and 5 spots on the team, but nobody claimed those positions this fall.
Who will it be? And how well will they play?
"I would say it's a question mark right now," said Pint. "If we can get good play out of those two spots, we could be very competitive."
The fall campaign was special. The Eagles entered five tournaments and won four of them with titles at the Klocke Classic, the Region XI Fall Preview, the Wartburg Invite and the Viterbo Invite. Kirkwood finished second at the junior college National Preview behind Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
Pollard set a Kirkwood school record for 36 holes at the Klocke Classic when he captured top honors at 9-under-par 135 with rounds of 66 and 69 at Hunters Ridge in Marion. He broke another KCC mark when he fired a 63 at the Wartburg Invite, Prairie Links Golf Course.
"His good is really good," said Pint.
McCarty claimed medalist honors at the Region XI Fall Preview and gives Kirkwood a potent added punch at the top of the ticket. "He's been rock-solid all fall," said Pint.
Shackelford took medalist honors at the Viterbo Invite and has been a consistent player at the No. 3 spot.
Kirkwood won the Klocke Classic by 20 shots, captured the Wartburg Invite by 25 strokes, and took the Viterbo title by eight shots.
Pint was very happy with his team this fall.
"It was good," he said. "All of the guys that we have on the team got to play in at least three tournaments. We got to see what the guys are capable of. Certainly, depth is a key component to success."
Jax Stelzer, Kyle Arthofer, Taylor Crisp, Luke Evans, Jacob Patterson and Jack Phipps will be competing for those No. 4 and 5 spots on the team.
"It's up in the air as to who might want to take that over," said Pint. "It will be interesting. I'm hoping it will all shake out because it hasn't yet.
Pint said this winter will be pivotal for his team's development with indoor workouts at their new facility at Johnson Hall, along with their work in the classroom and weight room.
Pint likes his team and is confident the Eagles will move forward toward a good finish to the fall and a great start to the 2022 spring season.
"I think we'll get there," he said.
