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NEWSLETTERSEPT. 2015

Want to hit farther but not swing faster?by Joey Wuertemberger ’01 Everyone is looking for more distance these days, and to be honest, there’s a simple answer. Plus, you don’t need to swing faster. How do you do it, you might ask? Simple, improve your angle of attack. The angle of attack is the direction the clubhead is moving up or down at impact. If the ball is on the ground, always strive for a negative attack angle, but if you want to maximize distance with the driver, a positive angle of attack is a must. If you want to know exactly if you’re hitting up on the ball, try this simple drill. 1. Take an empty sleeve of golf balls and place the sleeve 8-12 inches in front of the ball. 2. Take your normal setup and swing. If you can hit the ball high on the face and safely escape the sleeve, you did it! If not, you know what you need to work on for maximizing distance.

PROGRAM UPDATEby Jerry Hogge We are off to a great school year with the students enjoying the facilities Downback. It has been encouraging to see the quality of potential students that are already visiting Methodist University for next year. We have had great feedback from our PGA Summer Experience camp, which is for rising high school juniors and seniors each July. Each student is given the opportunity to experience the Downback facilities firsthand, receive instruction from the PGA staff, learn about the PGA-accredited curriculum, live on the MU campus, and get a quick snapshot of campus life. This helps them decide if becoming a golf professional is something they want to pursue. We continue to ask for your recommendations of young men and women who will be the PGA stars of tomorrow. We truly value your input. Please contact Brock White at brwhite@methodist.edu or 910.630.7278, with recommendations. We continue to seek the capital funds needed for our building expansion. Several alumni and their parents have made substantial commitments, for which we are grateful. To date, we have raised $148,599. Many have said they will help. Now is a great time to send in your commitments. I will be traveling to New York City on October 13, for a regional alumni and parents reception. For more information on the event in New York, contact the Advancement Office at 910.630.7609.I hope to see you there. Please enjoy our newsletter and provide us with feedback to make it better.

To view this video visit: http://www.methodist.edu/pga-golf-management-driving

TRAGIC LOSSby Jerry Hogge Again I have said good-bye to one of our young golf professionals who was tragically killed in an automobile accident – Mike Townsend. To all who had the privilege of knowing Mike, his sudden death has shocked us all. Mike was a North Carolina native who married his high

school sweetheart and had a beautiful family. Mike had recently been promoted to the Director of Golf at the Cassique Club and had won the Carolinas Section Championship. A PGA Tour event was in his future. Many friends, teammates, and professionals attended his funeral, which culminated with his wife Katherine sharing her thoughts on what a wonderful husband, friend, and father Mike was. The students and staff, with a $2,000 match from Billy Anderson ’93 (Eagle Point Golf Club), donated almost $5,000 to the Mike Townsend Trust Fund for his children’s education. I am so proud of our students and staff. It was one of the most touching moments in my career. Sometimes we rush through our life without pausing to realize those who have had their life cut too short. Mike’s death made me remember and contemplate the four other students and graduates that we have lost: Bill Arliss ’91, Craig Chisolm, Wes Mensing’09, and Nick Rossano. These young men left their mark on our University, our program, and our hearts. May God comfort and heal all the hurt as we remember these fine young men.

Mike Townsend ’05 on July 30 after winning the Carolinas PGA section championship at Grande Dunes Resort in Myrtle Beach.

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Register Today!Homecoming and Parents Weekend Events for PGA Golf ManagementFriday, October 166:00 p.m. Alumni & Parents Pre-Registration Party Fairfield Inn6:30 p.m. Hall of Fame Banquet Berns Student Center9:00 p.m. Hall of Fame After-Party Fairfield Inn

Saturday, October 178:00 a.m. Parents’ Breakfast Fairfield Inn 9:00 a.m. Ceremonial Tee Shot for Wes Mensing ’09 Downback9:00 a.m. Choral “Gathersing” Choral Rehearsal Room10:00 a.m. Women’s Basketball Alumni Game Riddle Center10:00 a.m. Alumni Awards Ceremony Alumni Dining Room11:00 a.m. Men’s Basketball Alumni Game Riddle Center11:00 a.m. Tailgate/Food Truck Lunch Berns/Riddle Parking11:00 a.m. KidZone Outdoor Basketball Courts1:00 p.m. Football Game Monarch Stadium Parents’ Tent President’s Box6:00 p.m. Class of ’65 50th Reunion Dinner Scrub Oaks Gold Room7:00 p.m. Alumni and Parents’ Party Scrub Oaks

For registration:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2015-methodist-university-

homecoming-family-weekend-tickets-18102735770

For more information contact Kirbie Dockery, Director of

Alumni Affairs, at 910.630.7167 or alumnioffice@methodist.edu.

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Register Today!Homecoming and Parents Weekend Events for PGA Golf Management

Women’s Golf

ROSTERName Class Hometown

Jade Blais Fr. East Barre, Vt.Danielle Burns Jr. Snoqualmie, Wash.Claire Castetter Jr. Cary, Ill.Lauren Ceyrolles So. Fuquay-Varina, N.C.Peyton Durham Fr. Dinwiddie, Va.Maggie Flurschutz Fr. Auburn, N.Y.Sienna Fucci So. Guilford, Conn.Isabel Gonzalez Fr. Bloomfield, N.J.Erika Hallmark Fr. American Canyon, Calif. Makenna Hammer Fr. Clayton, N.C.Elizabeth Leavitt Jr. Salinas, Calif.Alexandra Michielini Sr. Garden City, N.Y. Briana Morris So. Poland, MaineMcKenzee Pane So. South Fulton, Tenn.Ashley Roggero So. Portsmouth, R.I.Mackenzie Ryan Fr. Hubbardston, Mass.Paloma Santiago Sr. Lawrence, N.J.Molly Sheekey Jr. Jamestown, R.I.Sydney Syster So. Derry, Pa.Madeleine Vonnegut So. Fayetteville, N.C.Megan Webster Sr. Katy, TexasKaylee Wells So. Baiting Hollow, N.Y.Taylor Woods So. Edgewood, Wash.

Name Title

Tom Inczauskis Head Women’s Golf Coach Kelsie Carralero Assistant Women’s Golf Coach

2015 - 2016

COACHING SAFF

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Join usfor a special tribute to Wes MensingSaturday | Oct. 17, 2015 | 9 a.m. | Downback

Wesley R. Mensing ’09

Ceremonial Tee Shot9:00-9:15 a.m.

Reception and Tribute9:15-9:45 a.m.

Alumni Awards CeremonyAlumni Dining Room

10:00 a.m.

CORY YUDKIN My summer at TPC Boston has been fantastic! I had the pleasure of working with three alumni: Don Baldassare, Eric Ledbetter, and Devin Beck; all of whom welcomed and helped me and fellow intern Andrew Norris. Don become an inspirational mentor and has helped to solidify my decision that the golf industry is where I want to be for the rest of my life. Don Baldassare is extremely knowledgeable in every aspect of the industry, from teaching, to managing, to inside and outside operations. He helped me take my golf game to a whole new level with his ability at every level of experience. It was apparent that his knowlege of the industry has brought TPC Boston to new heights of achievements, which can be seen in member satisfaction levels, overall revenue, and growth of the club as a whole. I have learned so much from being around him and seeing what he does day in and day out. Don’s ability to succeed with the workload that is put on him is incomparable. He is truly a great product of the Methodist PGM Program and Methodist should be proud to say Don Baldassare is an alumni. Over the summer, I experienced almost every aspect TPC Boston had to offer. I was allowed to utilize my passion for teaching during small women’s clinics and junior camps, and the joy I felt was unparalleled and very rewarding when I saw the smile on their faces. I can say it has been the best job I have had thus far. During my internship I grew extensively; the most essential fact I took away was how important it is to be professional at all times.

No matter the situation, every member of the staff was consistently professional and made a profound impact on my work ethic.

Internship Update

L to R: Andrew Norris (Sophomore), Devin Beck ’10, Don Baldassare ’12, Eric Ledbetter ’14 and Cory Yudkin (Sophomore).

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Internship Update

PGA Alumni Event

Jerry Hogge and the PGA Golf Management Program invite you to the

annual PGA alumni gathering at the 2016 PGA Show.

Wednesday | January 27, 2016 | 5-7 p.m.

Orange County National Golf Center Orlando, Fla.

RSVP to Alunni Affairs910.630.7167 | 1.800.488.7110 ext.7167

alumnioffice@methodist.edu

ANDREW NORRIS I had a fantastic summer here at TPC Boston. I worked with alumni Don Baldassare, Devin Beck, and Eric Ledbetter, and fellow MU student Cory Yudkin. All three alumni have been influential in my education, and have all been positive mentors. Devin Beck taught me how to use computer programs to set up tournaments. This included making scorecards, cart signs, rules sheets, and tee sheets. Don took me under his wing and taught me a lot, including improving my golf game, being professional in dealing with customers, and how he instructed members. He also allowed me to shadow him as he taught members allowing me to grow my knowledge of teaching other golfers. Eric was extremely welcoming to me, and was the first person I met at the club. Because we both had MU in common, we made an instant connection. Eric also let me shadow him, and has helped me increase my knowledge of the golf swing.

MOLLY SHEEKEY My level-two internship at Shelter Harbor Golf Club in Charlestown, Rhode Island has not only been a rewarding experience, but a learning opportunity. Methodist University alumna, Loretta Giovannettone is the merchandise manager and assistant golf professional at Shelter Harbor. With Loretta’s assistance I have enhanced my knowledge in different aspects of the golf industry, including merchandising responsibilities and different techniques used to teach Junior golf as well as ladies clinics.

I am thankful I have been given the opportunity to work beside Loretta and gain greater insight into the Professional Golf Management Program. This experience has been one that will aid me in my journey to becoming the best professional I can be in an industry for which I have a true passion.

Loretta Giovannettone ’14 and Molly Sheekey (Junior)at Shelter Harbor Golf Club, RI

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METHODIST UNIVERSITY ALUMNI

CHAD COLLINSvisits the PGA Management program

highlights

by Coach Steve Conley

CHAD COLLINSCollege uThree NCAA D3 Individual ChampionshipsuFour Time All-Americanu18 Collegiate VictoriesuFour Times Top 10 Scoring Average (All Divisions)uIndiana Amateur ChampionuTwo time U.S. Amateur Championship Qualifier ProfessionaluPGA Tour Member (6 years)uPGA Tour Career Earnings $2,525,221uTwo Web.com Tour WinsuWeb.com Career Earnings $1,212.085 (Ranks 19th) 2015 PGA TouruScoring Ave. 70.65u#1 Scrambling 66.10%uEarnings $747,899uFedEx Cup Ranking 120uWorld Ranking 331

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PGA Tour member & MU PGM Alum Chad Collins ’01 visited Downback to give a clinic for our staff and students prior to playing in the Wyndam Championship at Sedgefield CC in Greensboro, N.C. He hit shots and answered questions for more than an hour. It was great fun reminiscing with him about his college days at MU. He also spoke about his near-win at The Greenbriar Classic. He was leading with two holes to play finishing T-6th at -11 with rounds of 65-67-68-69 (269). We are all very proud of Chad and we continue to wish him well as he continues his career on the PGA Tour next season.

Above, PGA golfer Chad Collins performs a hitting clinic for students.Left, Collins poses with the PGA Golf Program at Methodist University.Below, students from Golf Management enjoy Collins’ demostration.

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Methodist University Men’s Golf Ranked No. 1

Women’s Golf Fall ScheduleSept. 27-28 —Montgomery CC Women’s Intercollegiate, Montgomery, Ala.Oct. 5-6 —Generals Invitational, Lexington, Va Oct. 11-13 —Golfweek Division III Fall Preview, Destin, Fl.Oct. 26-27 —Chick-fil-A Collegiate Invitational, Coosa Country Club, Rome, Ga.

Men’s Golf Fall Schedule Sept. 28-29 — Gordin Classic, Delaware, Ohio Oct. 11-13 — Golfweek Fall Preview, Destin, Fla.Oct. 18-20 —O’Brian Jensen Memorial,

Greensboro, N.C.

Men's Golf Team Pre-Season Rankings The Methodist men's golf team, the reigning NCAA Division III National Champions, have opened the season ranked No. 1 in the Bushnell Golfweek Coaches Poll. The Monarchs, who won their 11th National Championship at Greensboro's Grandover Resort last May, received 14 first-place votes for a total of 421 points. LaGrange, last season's national runner-up, was second with 369 points and one first-place vote, while UT-Tyler was picked third and earned the final two first-place votes. Wittenberg (349) and Redlands (330) rounded outthe Top Five. The Monarchs, led by Steve Conley in his 29th year, are expected to welcome back four of last year's five National Championship participants, including All-American Mason Stutler. Stutler finished 13th at last season's championships and Aaron Purviance added a Top-20 finish with a T-18th finish.

Flower City Preview Results The Methodist men's golf team moved up five spots during the final day of the Flower City Preview hosted by St. John Fisher and finished in second place with a 36-hole total of 608 (308-300). The event, which was shortened from 54 holes to 36 holes due to inclement weather, was won by the host Cardinals, who carded a score of 604 (301-303) to edge the Monarchs. Huntingdon (300-311-611), Wittenberg (310-304-614) and Mary Hardin-Baylor (304-310-614) completed the top five of the 18-team field. Jackson Collier was MU's top finisher, placing in a tie for seventh after shooting 76 (+4) on day two for a two-day total of 150 (74-76). Mason Stutler was tied for 10th, one shot back of Collier, at 151 (79-72). Aaron Purviance shot a 153 (77-76) and tied for 20th, while Davis Jensen came in with a score of 158 (78-80) and tied for 46th. Craig Decato rounded out MU's contingent with a score of 160 (84-76) and tied for 56th.

Fall Tryout ResultsCourse Yardage Par Rating Rounds Course RecordMU 6,200 69 70.9 4 64

PLACE NAME HOMETOWN CLASS TOTAL AVE.1 Leddy, Josh Saint James, N.Y. JR 284 71.002 Riley, Gunnar Charleroi, Pa. SO 290 72.503 Gross, Larkin Center Cross, Va. FR 291 72.754 Gardiner, Grant Mickelton, N.J. JR 293 73.255 Ramsett, Jack Algonquin, Il. SO 294 73.50 Boyle, Chris West Dundee, Il. SO 294 73.507 Zetterholm, Ryan Enfield, Conn. JR 295 73.75 Filling, Chris Egg Harbor, N.J. JR 295 73.759 Mulligan, Liam Mickelton, N.J. JR 300 75.00 Stolz, Richard West Deptford, N.J. FR 300 75.00*CP Losey, Andrew Greenwich, N.Y. FR 302 75.5*CP Trotta, Jake Harrison, N.Y. FR 304 76.00*CP Schwab, Justin Beach Park, Il. JR 306 76.50*CP Gage, Cole Kansas City, Mo. FR 309 77.25*CP-Coach’s Picks-Picks based on Jr Golf Rankings, HS Performance and Tryouts RETURNERS (Spring 2015 Team) HOMETOWN CLASS NCAA’s 2014-15 Ave.1 # Mason Stutler (All-American) Fredericksburg, Va. SR 2015 & 2014 72.82 (28 Rds)2 Jackson Collier(All-Conference) Roanoke Rapids, N.C. SR 2015 75.80 (20 Rds)3 Charlie Maness (All-Conference) Troy, N.C. SR 2015 75.82 (17 Rds)4 Aaron Purviance Winston-Salem, N.C. SO 2015 74.94 (16 Rds)5 Craig Decato York, Maine SR N/A 75.63 (8 Rds)6 Davis Jensen Loudonville, N.Y. JR N/A 77.00 (3 Rds)# denotes Captain

by Coach Steve Conley