The Oswego State golf team is coming off a very good fall portion of the season. Oswego State won four out of its seven tournaments. Though the Lakers did not do great in the Hershey Cup, they think they can build off a strong fall.

“We have got to keep that momentum up going into the spring,” senior captain Corey Marshall said. “It’s tough sometimes because we have such a long break. It’s tough to get outside, especially here, but I think we know what we are capable of especially coming off the fall and the success we’ve had. So, we just have to try to get back to that point and back to that playing ability we know we can be at.” 

The senior likes the group of guys the Lakers have pulled together. He said the team needs more practice going into Empire 8, a tournament the team made last year, and said they can do well in conference play.

“I think we are confident going into the spring,” senior Sean Paul Owen said. “We have a one-stroke lead in our conference tournament, so we are just looking to build off that and we are confident with guys going forward.”

In their inaugural season, last year the Lakers were able to finish second out of eight in the Empire 8 Spring Championship. Marshall was able to get a score of 158 at the invitational. In the fall, the Lakers were able to take first in the first two days of the championship, with Owen leading the Lakers with a score of 145. 

“We have a team goal of winning the conference,” Marshall said. “We play as a team; it’s never an individual sport. We are definitely more team oriented than focusing on personal achievements.”

Owen agreed with his captain. For the Lakers, it is all about winning, not about personal goals.

“Our main goal is to win the conference tournament,” Owen said. “Our goal is to take home that and get to the national championship.” 

Owen talked highly of his captain and said he is excited for not only this season but also the future of Oswego State golf. 

“Corey is the captain and has been a mentor [to the freshmen] coming in, and they are all good players and been putting up good numbers, especially Ryan Fecco, who really helped us in the conference in the fall, and even some of the younger guys have also put up some great numbers,” Owen said.

Fecco is from Baldwinsville and is on the Empire 8’s Presidents List in the fall.

“I think leading people on a team can be challenging at times, but overall, I think it’s pretty easy with this group of guys,” Marshall said. “I know Ryan Fecco and some of the other guys really contributed in the fall season for us, which was really a big help in conference play. It’s been an easy transition for them. No problems have arisen, but they definitely have some room to improve, but overall, they are good team players.” 

With both of these players having their final season at Oswego State, they took some time to reflect on their great experience at Oswego.

“I would definitely do it all over again,” Marshall said. “It’s been great. I’ve had great teammates the last four years and I have made a lot of good friendships, and I think this last season especially, we have gotten into a new level of play, which is nice to see, and hopefully, next weekend, we can go out there and prove ourselves.”

Owen said he has enjoyed his time on the team as well.

“It’s been great,” Owen said. “I have a lot of good friends. I’m living with three of them on the golf team right now, so it’s been a great experience.”

The Lakers will look to win the conference this weekend in Hershey, Pennsylvania, for the Empire 8 Conference Championship. After that, they wrap up their season with the Elmira College invitational and the 13th annual Lakers Spring Tournament.

Photo by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian