In its final competition before the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, the Drexel golf team finished 12th in the Wolfpack Spring Open in Raleigh, N.C. This tournament marked the first time in three weeks that the Dragons finished outside the top two teams in competition.
Leading the Dragons, as he has all season, was freshman Christopher Crawford, who shot a 72 and 73 for a combined score of 145. His six birdies helped him finish eighth overall in a field filled with top-level competition.
“Chris finished eighth with [Atlantic Coast Conference] competition and future PGA players, that’s saying something,” head coach Mike Dynda said. “He played very well.”
Along with Crawford, senior Ben Feld continued to play very well, as he had last week. Feld shot a 78 and 73 to combine for 151 and finish tied for 31st.
“Ben Feld had a great last nine holes, and now hopefully that gives him a little momentum heading into CAAs,” Dynda said.
While Feld and Crawford had solid performances overall, the rest of the team struggled. Senior James Braunsberg scored a 161, while fellow senior Andrew Lawson shot a 167. Junior Ben Hinge finished with a disappointing 173. For the upcoming match, the Dragons will head to Southport, N.C., to compete in the CAA Championship April 26-28.
While Drexel has never won the CAA Championship, Dynda said he believes that if his golfers are firing on all cylinders, they have the potential to make some noise in the tournament. The University of North Carolina Wilmington is currently the top-ranked team in the championship, and Dynda said they are the team to beat.
“UNCW is head and shoulders above everyone else in the conference,” he said.
Dynda is relying on his top three to continue what they have been doing all season, but he will need production from his fourth and fifth golfers to truly have a chance to make an impact in the tournament.
“Chris, James and Ben can play with any team in the conference, but [the CAA Championship] is all about how well your fourth and fifth score,” Dynda said.
Dynda will bring the aforementioned Crawford, Feld and Braunsberg to North Carolina, as well as Lawson and senior Billy Reube. Dynda is relying on Lawson’s and Reube’s past success in the CAA Championship to help them in the coming weekend.
“Andrew is due for a really good round, and I know he’s had past success here before,” Dynda said. “As has Billy, so I’m hoping they can find that form again.”
If Reube and Lawson can find a bit of magic, along with Feld, Crawford and Braunsberg doing what is expected of them, then the Dragons will have a chance to contend in the CAA Championship.