The men’s golf team concluded their season this week with a ninth-place finish at the Xavier Invitational. The team has played through much adversity this year, with injuries, missing players and bad weather.

It was certain coming into this season that the team would have to have a younger, less-experienced golfer step it up for them to be successful. They also knew with the loss of several key players, they would need a player to card great scores and help lead the young team in tournaments. Imagine Falcons’ coach Garry Winger’s excitement when he realized that he got both of these essentials in one golfer.

It was early on, before the start of the season, when it became abundantly clear who the golfer would be to lead the Falcons this fall season.

It was during the practice rounds at Forrest Creason Golf Course that redshirt sophomore Craig Pickerel would turn heads and prove to many that he was going to do his best to lead the team this season and seasons to come. Pickerel carded an amazing 13-under in four rounds at Creason.

The qualifying score was not only good enough to place him first in the team’s qualifying rounds, but was also good enough to break a course record. Pickerel shattered the previous record, which was held for 28 years, before his second season had even begun.

Winger had high hopes for Pickerel coming into this season. “Craig has a great work ethic and he worked really hard in the offseason,” Winger said. “Craig is a perfect example of hard work paying off. I knew Craig was going to be successful and be good for us this season. Although it’s only his second year playing, it is his third year in the program, and he has definitely grown as a player and has been great for the team.”

Needless to say, Pickerel has not disappointed Winger this season. Pickerel has proceeded to lead the team in all but one of the fall tournaments.

In the first tournament of the season, Pickerel had a weekend of personal bests, with a 215 combined total of the three-round tournament and a third-round score of 69. Pickerel lead the team with his fifth-place finish for the tournament.

After struggling in the second tournament, Pickerel responded with a 15th-place performance in the Eastern Colonial Classic. Pickerel carded a team-best 69 in the final round, which also led to the Falcons’ best finish with a 145.

The best finish of Pickerel’s career came in the last tournament, which was held at the Grizzly Course in Cincinnati. Pickerel carded a 72 in the first round of the Xavier Invitational but fought his way back into contention with back-to-back rounds of 68.

The great performance was good enough to put him in third place for the tournament. The three round total of 208 also shattered another one of the Falcons’ records.

Winger held the previous record of the best three round total, with a 210 back in 1994.

Craig has been able to serve as a leader for the team on the course, and has been a boost to the team all year long.

Sophomore Austin Chase, who has also been playing good golf, feels he has definitely benefited from Pickerel this season.

“Craig played really well this season,” Chase said. “I think it helps me to play tag with somebody out on the course. I did it last year with Adam Balls and I do it this year with Craig. I feel that it helps me out.”

The Falcons hope Pickerel, as well as the rest of the team, can continue their successful play in the spring season. Captain Andy Miller thinks Pickerel can have an impact on next season as well.

“Craig’s been playing real well,” Miller said. “He started playing good during the summer and was able to continue that good play through the fall. Hopefully he will continue it into the spring and the rest of the team will too.”

Coming off a great tournament at Xavier, Pickerel and the men’s golf team will be off until March 8, when they travel to Orlando to compete in the Big Red Invitational for the start of their spring season.

Now, with even more experience under his belt and his great work ethic, Pickerel should be able to continue his great golf not only this season but also the rest of his career as a Falcon.