A new season for the Valparaiso University men’s golf team began on Sunday as a youthful squad utilized a starting lineup that features two sophomores and one freshman comprising the top three. Rookie Caleb VanArragon (Blaine, Minn. / Blaine) had an impressive debut, while Charlie Toman (Chardon, Ohio / Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin got his sophomore season off to a strong start at the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate, hosted by Mizzou in Verona, N.Y.

How It Happened

• As a team, Valpo posted a 306 (+18) in the opening round before carding a 299 (+11) in Round 2. The 36-hole total of 605 (+29) allows the team to enter Monday’s final round in seventh of 14. Valpo is just one stroke behind sixth-place Youngstown State and two behind fifth-place Sacred Heart in the tight middle of the pack.
• VanArragon wasted no time in turning in a quality round, going two strokes under in the first 18 of his collegiate career. After posting Valpo’s best 18-hole score of the day with a 70 in Round 1, the freshman turned in a 77 in the second round to finish the day with a team-low 147. He is tied for 20^th overall at three strokes over par.
• Toman improved his 77 in the opening round by four strokes in Round 2 to complete the day at 150 (+6), tied for 29^th.
• Jack Juskow (Greenville, S.C. / Hamilton Southeastern), Drew Alexander (McCordsville, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern) and Garrett Willis (Fort Wayne, Ind. / Homestead) all finished the 36-hole day within one stroke of each other at 155, 156 and 157, respectively. Matthew McCarthy (O’Fallon, Ill. / Althoff Catholic) competed as an individual and also carded a 155, including a 74 in Round 2.

Inside the Rounds

• Valpo had 102 pars as a team, fourth most in the 14-team field. The squad racked up 25 birdies, tied for sixth.
• Willis led the team with 22 pars, while the best birdie production came from Toman and VanArragon with eight apiece, tied for 12^th in the 88-player field.
• Five of Valpo’s six players improved their score from Round 1 to Round 2.

Thoughts from Head Coach Dave Gring  

“While it was very exciting to get the new season started today, there was a level of anxiousness above what I’m used to seeing and the guys probably pressed more than usual. We had too many double and triple bogeys in the first round, which really drives a wedge in the scoring and any type of momentum. The consistent shot execution simply was not there today, and the guys seemed to be trying too hard to hit quality shots throughout both rounds.”

“We seemed to get into a better rhythm in the second round, with all of our players improving their score over the first round except for Caleb following his two-under first round. We still had too many double bogeys, but we cut that total in half and managed the golf course better. We were still kicking some rust off throughout today’s rounds, getting back into some good competition and our first tourney of the fall season.”

“Caleb hit 83 percent of his fairways, hit 79 percent of his greens and had six birdies in the first round. His putting was decent all day, but he still missed a number of birdies and par saves in both rounds. His driving accuracy fell off more in the second round and that is at a premium on this course. The driving accuracy was a challenge for the entire team as well, and that’s something we need to improve tomorrow. I was really proud of Caleb's efforts all day, especially for the first two rounds of his college career."

Up Next

Valpo will play 18 more holes over the final round of the Turning Stone Tiger Intercollegiate on Monday. A link to live scoring will be available on ValpoAthletics.com via BirdieFire.