By Mario Martinez—
After a lackluster fall season that only accumulated one win for the NJCU’s Men’s Golf team, Capt. Brian Ferrante 21, History, from Woodbine, NJ, who is in his final season at NJCU says it’s time for the team to toughen up their game.
“Golf is very mental, so we’ve been emphasizing on that. Since we’ve had the heavier portion of our matches in the fall and only a few in the spring, it’s a good time to work on mental toughness, form and focus on your game as a whole. If you focus on your game as a whole, it will all come together. So in the spring you can really work out your kinks so you can have your game ready for the new season in the fall,” he said.
With the bulk of the season already played during the fall and only a handful of matches this semester, Ferrante, who owns the school record for shooting a +7 (78), believes the team should get back to basics during the spring season and work on fundamentals that will improve their game and also believes that some of his new teammates may assist in that.
“I think it’s time to drop back to the drawing board for us. We lost few games and guys last season but we’re trying to keep our expectations high. It’s always good to keep your expectations high, especially at practice. Plus we’ve got a couple new guys who’ve come in and contributed. We’re a small team and whenever you can get new guys that can swing, that’s always a good thing,” said Ferrante.
Now in his second season as head coach, Tim Black acknowledges that this spring portion of the season is a crucial time to develop the team’s game and feels that it will give new players an opportunity to become accustomed to playing the sport at a collegiate level.
Coach Black expressed his expectations for the upcoming season:
“The spring season is a very casual season and it’s going to introduce some of the new guys to the team and to college competition because many of them haven’t played before. It’s more of a ‘feelingout’ semester, to get people comfortable so that in the fall we’ll be ready to go and really compete.”
He also reflected Ferrante’s impending departure from NJCU.
“Brian has really spotlighted and carried our team and that’s why he’s been captain. He was an easy choice for captain,” he said.“I just want him to go out and have a nice, relaxed season since we’re not under pressure to finish matches and to be compliant with the season. I really want him to enjoy it and go out happy.”
Black still understands the burden that will be placed on the team when Ferrante leaves and hopes that newcomers like Christopher Murphy, 20, Finance and Marketing (Double major), from Carlstadt, Steven Pilanksi, 20, Fire Science (Minor: Fitness, Exercise, and Sports), from Bayonne, and Allen Walsh, 29, Media Arts (Journalism and Creative Writing), from Bayonne, will be able to pick up some of the slack next season. Bringing newfound alacrity to the team, Black sees potential in these newcomers for their willingness to do all the little things that matter and believes that they may impact the team in the future.
“It’s the little things. Their awareness of the game, being at practice, having all their paperwork in on time, stuff like that,” he said.“I believe their enthusiasm is going to help the team. I want to see what they have and want them to enjoy the season. But really, they’re going to have to work towards the fall because without Brian, we’re going to have to do more work in order to be as competitive as we were. I look for them to help carry some of the load.”
Matt Smith, 23, English (Journalism), from Gibbstown, who owns a school record for carding a 78 on October 1, 2012 at the Griffin Fall Classic, hosted by Chestnut Hill College at the Westover Country Club, said that practicing over the winter with Black has kept his swing fresh and has been tremendously helpful for the team as whole. Having learned much from the fall season, Smith says that the team is now more dedicated and looking forward to getting better.
“We learned a lot from last season. There’s a bigger emphasis on getting to the range, getting to course and practicing this season in order to improve. We learn from every season,” said Smith. “We’re still a new team. It’s only our second year as a team but I think we’ve learned a lot from every season so I think it’ll really help us out this season.”
Though he agrees that improving the team’s mental toughness and focus is vital to the team’s development this upcoming season, Black also wants the team to absorb the entire experience and most importantly enjoy the timeless sport of golf.
“I think mental toughness is important but I’m trying to show them an appreciation for everything. Their concentration is on their score and trying to beat the guy next to them, but I want them to enjoy the golfing, getting out and seeing courses that they might not have seen otherwise. I understand the mental toughness, but if you don’t get the greatest score it’s still okay. I want them to be appreciative of it all,” Black said.
Black also went on to say after noticing a couple of players last season who were a bit weary after a 18 hole game, that golf is not only mentally draining but also very physically tough.
“The physical aspect is something that is sometimes overlooked but it’s very important. You see the pros on TV and they have a caddy carrying their bag but in the college game they have to carry their own clubs. It’s a long 45 hour day of playing. Mentally it’s tough but also physically too,” he said.
The Gothic Knights open their season in Mid-March.
