David Shearer

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Going into the NCAA Super Regional Tournament, the Northern Kentucky University men’s golf team will be looking to make a trip to the national tournament for the second year in a row.

The Norse will begin play in the three-day Great Lakes Region portion of the tournament on Monday in St. Joseph, Mo. NKU will have to face familiar opponents at the super regional tournament, and NKU head coach Daryl Landrum believes that the title will come down to several of the teams the Norse have played during the spring season.

“The men’s tournament will probably come down to Grand Valley State, NKU, Ferris State and Wayne State,” Landrum said. “I really think that it will come down to us and Grand Valley on the last day.”

Grand Valley State won the NKU Spring Regional with a score of 580, while NKU finished in a tie with Wayne State University for fourth place, 17 strokes behind the Lakers. Ferris State finished sixth.

The four teams also met in the Great Lakes Regional in Auburn, Ind. Wayne State came out on top, while Grand Valley State came in second, NKU finished third and Ferris State ended the tournament in 11th place.

While the Norse have not beaten all of the teams they will be facing, Landrum believes they have a chance at coming home with the victory.

“I think that if we play our best that no one can beat us,” Landrum said. “With that being said, if we don’t we can be beat by almost anybody in the field. Golf is a crazy game as we witnessed in the men’s conference when Wisconsin-Parkside seemed unbeatable.”

Several players stepped up to help the Norse throughout the spring.

“Every player on the men’s team has had flashes of brilliance this spring,” Landrum said

David Shearer led the Norse several times, winning the Great Lakes Valley Conference Championships medal and the Eagle Creek Classic, while finishing third at the NKU Spring Regional and fourth at the Great Lakes Regional.

NKU captured the Eagle Creek Classic team title by defeating Bellarmine and Dayton. The team had four players place in the top 10. Along with Shearer’s victory, Andrew Atkinson and Jerod Cahill finished tied for second and Mike Kessling came in sixth.

“The team struggled early because of the bad weather we had early,” Landrum said, “but, in a way, I think it may have helped us. I think the team is starting to peak, and I think we will be ready next Monday.”