2008 Woodie Awards
Golf team prepares for post season
By: Jillian Hanks
Issue date: 4/16/08 Section: Sports
The fourth-ranked California State University, Stanislaus men's golf team is entering the final stretch of the season and is preparing to defend its California Collegiate Athletic Association title.
Led by senior, Erick Justesen, the golf team has posted impressive scores throughout the season with seven straight top four finishes.
The successful team is coached by Jim Hanny, who at 83, will be retiring after his 36th season as the head golf coach.
In the meantime, Hanny is drilling the players in head-to-head battles to vie for the top five spots on the team. Those top five players travel and compete in the tournaments.
Justesen, 23, said the golf team practices every day and the practices can last four to six hours. Hanny has each player turn in a score card at the end of the practice to ensure the men are performing to his expectations.
"My objective is to get the five best players I got to play in the tournament," Hanny said. "It's not always the same five players."
Hanny's "cut-throat" coaching style, as described by Justesen, has brought the golf team much success.
The Warriors best showings came Feb. 25-26 at the CSU Bakersfield Spring Invitational and April 7-8 at the CSU Monterey Bay Otter Invitational when they brought home first place.
Justesen shot a 223 at the Otter Invitational to take home the individual medalist honors for the second time this season. His teammates - Andy Moren, Jesse Contreras, Ryan Nickell and Jason McHargue - all finished in the top 20 leaderboard.
Justesen, who will be turning pro in June, said the most memorable team moment this season was at the Spring Invitational in Bakersfield. The Warriors shot a team score of 283 to beat UCLA by one stroke.
"Seeing the smile on the coach's face and all the guys' faces, that was huge," Justesen said.
The next tournament is the CCAA championship on April 21-22 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, and as the defending champions, the expectations are high.
However, Hanny points out that golf is not an easy game.
"The way the golf game is, your best player plays very good one tournament and the next tournament he won't play very well. When you have the majority of the team playing well, you're going to win."
Justesen said golf is more of a mental game than a physical game.
"There is no perfect round. You're going out and trying to screw up as little as possible."
Justesen said one of Hanny's favorite sayings is: "While you're sitting on your butt, someone else is working harder."
Hanny believes that with these players, the team is capable of winning and keeps pushing his players to post their best scores.
With the constant competition for the top five spots and Hanny's no-nonsense coaching style, Justesen said, "the team we have is so strong, it's reasonable to win nationals."
Led by senior, Erick Justesen, the golf team has posted impressive scores throughout the season with seven straight top four finishes.
The successful team is coached by Jim Hanny, who at 83, will be retiring after his 36th season as the head golf coach.
In the meantime, Hanny is drilling the players in head-to-head battles to vie for the top five spots on the team. Those top five players travel and compete in the tournaments.
Justesen, 23, said the golf team practices every day and the practices can last four to six hours. Hanny has each player turn in a score card at the end of the practice to ensure the men are performing to his expectations.
"My objective is to get the five best players I got to play in the tournament," Hanny said. "It's not always the same five players."
Hanny's "cut-throat" coaching style, as described by Justesen, has brought the golf team much success.
The Warriors best showings came Feb. 25-26 at the CSU Bakersfield Spring Invitational and April 7-8 at the CSU Monterey Bay Otter Invitational when they brought home first place.
Justesen shot a 223 at the Otter Invitational to take home the individual medalist honors for the second time this season. His teammates - Andy Moren, Jesse Contreras, Ryan Nickell and Jason McHargue - all finished in the top 20 leaderboard.
Justesen, who will be turning pro in June, said the most memorable team moment this season was at the Spring Invitational in Bakersfield. The Warriors shot a team score of 283 to beat UCLA by one stroke.
"Seeing the smile on the coach's face and all the guys' faces, that was huge," Justesen said.
The next tournament is the CCAA championship on April 21-22 at Hunter Ranch Golf Course in Paso Robles, and as the defending champions, the expectations are high.
However, Hanny points out that golf is not an easy game.
"The way the golf game is, your best player plays very good one tournament and the next tournament he won't play very well. When you have the majority of the team playing well, you're going to win."
Justesen said golf is more of a mental game than a physical game.
"There is no perfect round. You're going out and trying to screw up as little as possible."
Justesen said one of Hanny's favorite sayings is: "While you're sitting on your butt, someone else is working harder."
Hanny believes that with these players, the team is capable of winning and keeps pushing his players to post their best scores.
With the constant competition for the top five spots and Hanny's no-nonsense coaching style, Justesen said, "the team we have is so strong, it's reasonable to win nationals."
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