HARTSVILLE, S.C.- The Coker College men's golf team will enter the 2018 spring season ranked 17th in the nation, as per Golfstat rankings. Junior Wanjoo Lee leads the way for the Cobras, as he is rated the 60th best Division-II golfer, followed by fellow teammate Zach Herold, who is inside the top-100 at 98th.
Coker completed their fall schedule on Oct. 17, 2017 and secured a tournament championship at the Queens University Collegiate Invitational. The Cobras also tallied top-five finishes in each of their first four tournaments. Additionally, Lee brought home the Individual Title at the Myrtle Beach Invitational.
Head Coach Adam Goins said, "The offseason has been tough, having to schedule around the crazy weather patterns, but the team is responding well to the changes." Looking into the spring, Goins stated, "Winning Queens again was a big plus. We let some rounds get away from us during the fall, but when you don't play your best and still finish in the top-five, you know you have a very strong team."
The start of a new season brings excitement to the campus and the players. For Goins and his team, it means there's room for improvement moving forward. "We need to find more consistency in the backside of our lineup. That's where we will win championships. Truthfully, as a coaching staff, we just love watching our players compete. We are really excited to get the season started in Florida. The guys are in championship mode because they know this spring is very important to our team goal of returning to NCAA Regionals. We have some unfinished business."
Coker opens their season at the Spring Kick-Off Intercollegiate at Fleming Island Golf Club in Orange Park, Fla. (Feb. 11-13) followed by the Southern Tide Intercollegiate, which the Cobras will co-host with Limestone College. Goins stated that he really enjoys the Southern Tide Intercollegiate because, "It's our tournament that allows the guys to have a sense of pride in protecting something their name is on." The Southern Tide Intercollegiate will be played Mar. 4-6 at the Green Valley Country Club in Greenville, S.C.
"Green Valley is a great venue that challenges the guys. This course has hosted past professional tours and it creates a sense of urgency for us as a coaching staff. It helps us to see where we stand as a team on a championship-style golf course going into the home-stretch of our season," Goins said.
Coker will continue the rest of their season by staying close to home for the Hargett Memorial Tournament, hosted by Wingate University (Mar. 10-12), followed by the Bearcat Invitational, hosted by Lander University, held at Greenwood Country Club in Greenwood, S.C. (Mar. 25-27). The Navy and Gold will wrap up their regular season at the South Atlantic Conference Championship in Anderson, S.C. at Cobbs Glenn Golf Club (Apr. 7-10).
As mentioned, Lee helps lead the Navy and Gold, though as Goins stated, "We have four guys that can win a tournament week-in and week-out. It's a great problem to have and we have high expectations for them."
The Coker College men's golf program will tee things up at Fleming Island Golf Club in Orange Park, Fla. At the Spring Kick-Off Intercollegiate Feb. 11-13 to begin their spring season.