The Kirkwood Community College Eagles men’s golf fall campaign is in full swing.
With notching wins at the Kloche Classic, Wartburg Invitational, Viterbo Invitational, and the Jim Currel Invitational, the Eagles have been led by a rotating cast of top performers, with a few earning ICCAC Player of the Week honors along the way.
Kirkwood opened fall play with a decisive win at the Kloche Classic, hosted by Mount Mercy University. After the invitational’s two rounds, the Eagles were the only team able to score below 600, posting a team score of 581 and outpacing second-place Mount Mercy by 19 strokes.
They were led in this effort by Kolby Shackleford, who shot an incredible first round at 8 under par. After this performance, Shackleford was named ICCAC player of the week.
When asked about two players earning player of the week honors, Coach Darrin Pint said, “We aren’t a team that relies on any one guy to carry us. Any player can step up and win an event.”
Kirkwood continued their winning ways at the Wartburg Invitational in Waverly. The Eagles produced the top three performers of the meet, with Taylor Crisp shooting five under par, Luke Evans four under par, and Jack Phipps three under par.
Kirkwood turned in a team score of 565 –11 under par– the only team from the invitational to do so, and Crisp was awarded ICCAC player of the week for his performance.
To follow up the win at Wartburg, the Eagles earned another victory; this time at the Viterbo Invitational in La Crosse, Wis. Shackleford and Evans led the way, scoring even and two over, respectively. Kirkwood turned in a team score of 596, 20 over par, but good enough to eke out a win against second-place Iowa Central.
The winning continued at the Jim Currel Invitational during a cold and blustery meet at Waverly on Oct. 12. Despite weather, Gannon Hall stepped up for the Eagles, shooting five over par and battling his way to an individual score of 147. Crisp and Shackleford had 150 and 151 down on the card, earning them third and fourth place finishes respectively.
Pint credited his team’s success to their mental fortitude, “We have a tough group of guys. Weather, [playing] down, these guys put all that stuff aside. They know they have a job to do.”
Kirkwood managed to take the title with a team score of 602, 19 strokes ahead of second-place DMACC.
After these successes, Eagles golf looks to continue its hot streak at the Region XI Men’s golf preview tournament.
