Men
USF sophomores Michael Domenico and Adam Fanning and junior Corey Potts can flat out shoot low numbers. Multiple rounds in the 70’s prove that the trio is capable of competing with any of the top teams in the region. Unfortunately for these Cougars, consistently playing well at the same time and finding someone to step up in the No. 4 slot to support them has been difficult. Domenico (82.5), Fanning (79.8) and Potts (80.1) average rounds that can make USF a force to be reckoned with, but the nearest returning teammate, Adam Foster, averaged 85.3 strokes per round.

“We need to find somebody that will score for us in the big tournaments,” LaCross said. “We have plenty of guys that can shoot low here and there, but consistency is the crucial piece of the puzzle.”

As a team, USF finished 6th in the Fall MCC Championships a year ago before disappointingly missing the cut at the NAIA Region VIII Tournament last spring. Domenico, a 23rd-place finisher, was the top current Cougar at last year’s MCC’s, while no USF golfer broke 80 in either of his two rounds in regional competition. Strong individual performances dotted the schedule, but again, a collective effort escaped the team much of the time.

In addition to Foster, a sophomore, and classmate Matt Webb, a number of newcomers will vie for that last spot in the scoring rotation. USF opens the 2006 season Sept. 6 at the Goshen College Invitational and hope to have a lineup in place for that event. If it takes a while longer, the Cougars have six more meets before the MCC Championships roll around Oct. 2-3 at Blackthorn Golf Club in South Bend, Ind. USF will get a preview of Blackthorn Sept. 19 at the Bethel College Invitational.

“It will be an interesting season, especially as we sort through the roster and determine who our clutch performers are going to be,” LaCross said. “Again, there are a number of candidates and we will have a lot of tests at some tough courses to figure it out. Doing well at MCC's is our number one goal, particularly for the Fall season and we have some hungry guys looking to make amends for the disappointing regional showing last Spring.”

Women
LaCross returns four of his top five golfers from the programs’ inaugural season and adds a collection of newcomers that give the Lady Cougars an opportunity to be among the best teams in Region VIII. Sophomore April Heyerly leads all returning members with a 92.9 stroke average with classmates Alicia Fox (94.7) and Randi Black (95.4) also turning in solid rookie campaigns. Another returnee, junior Sara Eckert, had a solid Fall season with a 101.5 average per round and sophomore Christina Cherrington played in one match last year.

“Our nucleus is strong with the experience of a full year of college competition under its belt,” LaCross said. “Each of the returnees now can focus on consistency for season two.”

Despite being in just its first season of varsity competition, there was no shortage of success for the Lady Cougars. The team placed 4^th at the IMI Championships in Granger, Ind., Sept. 30 – Oct. 1 and was runner-up at the NAIA Region VIII Tournament it hosted at Fort Wayne Elks April 21-22. Heyerly placed fifth at said Regional Tournament, just five shots out of fourth place.

Joining the mix for 2006 are junior Sabrina Barrand and talented freshmen class. Local standout Hilary Bowman joins the USF program from Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, where she was a four-year letterwinner, Team MVP, a member of the News Sentinel All-Area Team and a sixth-place finisher at the IHSAA Fort Wayne Regional. Classmate Lindsay Eaton from Goshen, Ind., is a two-time All-Northern Lakes Conference honoree and sported 18 and 9-hole averages of 83 and 42.6 respectively – signaling she also may help the program immediately. Another freshman, Lyndsey Brumbaugh was a four-time letterwinner and two-time all-conference performer at Northwestern High School in Kokomo, Ind.

Rounding out the incoming class are Brooke Dalton, Kelsey McAdams, Stacey Riddle and Rachel Schaeffer.

“This group can make some noise this year. We are playing another nice schedule at some very challenging courses,” LaCross said. “Improved performances from our veterans joined by the sort of potential the freshmen possess will put us in the hunt for the Region VIII title.”