The Journal

Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeff Curry Freshman Jake Black (left) and junior Scott Hargis stand at the tee during the SLIAC Championship at Aberdeen Golf Course April 21.

Every team has one rival that is always capable of pulling out victories, regardless of records or rosters. For the Webster golf team, that team is the Maryville Saints.


Maryville claimed its first St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Title since 2001, edging the Gorloks 899-916 in the two-day, three-round SLIAC Championship Tournament. Blackburn College took third place in the eight team tournament that was held April 20 and 21 at Aberdeen Golf Course in Eureka, Mo. Maryville opened up a 16-stroke lead over Webster after one round of play. The Gorloks couldn't make up the ground.


"We got behind early," junior Andy Ahlering said. "We had a lot of catching up to do."


The second place finish was especially disappointing for the Gorloks, as they not only failed to win their third SLIAC Championship since 2003, but it also marked the third tournament this season Webster finished second to Maryville.


"Except for that first round, we were right there with Maryville, but that's how sports go," Associate Head Coach Andrew Belsky said.


Sophomore and co-captain Allen Heeger agreed, but said Maryville was the better team this season.


"A bunch of the guys are disappointed we didn't pull out the victory," Heeger said. "But you have got to give credit where credit is due. Maryville played great."


Three Gorloks finished in the Top-10 among individuals. Heeger finished second overall with a three-round score of 219. Heeger was three strokes over par, and four strokes behind individual champion sophomore Nick Profancik of Maryville. His efforts earned him a spot on the SLIAC All-Conference Team.


Heeger's performance - his putting in particular - drew praise from his teammates.


"Heeger has been incredible," Ahlering said. "Everytime I saw him putt, he (sank) it. It was ridiculous."


Ahlering fared well himself, finishing in fourth place with a score of 223. Freshman Jake Black came in 10th by shooting 236. In addition, Ahlering was named to the SLIAC All-Conference Team, was crowned the SLIAC Newcomer of the Year and was named SLIAC Player of the Week for his second place finish in the Millikin Big Blue Classic April 13 and 14. Ahlering is a transfer student from St. Louis Community College-Meramec.


Belsky said the performance of newcomers Ahlering and Black were contributing factors to the golf team's winning ways this season.


"Their influence has been tremendous," Belsky said. "They've been a big reason we've had some of the success we have had."


Belsky has only one qualm about what he labels an otherwise successful season.


"I would have liked to have beaten Maryville in one of the tournaments we played them in," Belsky said.


Next year's golf team will have a head start at breaking the losing streak against Maryville as everybody except senior co-captain Matt Lorenz and senior Brian Chackes are scheduled to return. Key returnees are Ahlering, Black, Heeger and juniors Scott Hargis, Brandon Glen and Jason Sullivan.


"We got a great core group of guys to build on," Belsky said. "I hope they work hard and practice hard over the summer."

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