Erik Schleicher is in the midst of a great season as the top player for the Oswego State golf team. It has not been easy the whole time. After a rough night on Tuesday, Sept. 24 in Elmira, Schleicher is set to bounce back on his home course this weekend. 

The senior has dominated the early autumn golf season, as the Lakers won three of their first four tournaments. His best performance was at the Keuka College Fall Invitational on Sept. 10. Schleicher was the best in the field that Tuesday, shooting an even-par 72 and earning the top individual score for the tournament. A round highlighted by a clean, two-under par front nine and ended with five consecutive pars, to hold off the closest competitor by a single stroke. He is capable of shooting around even-par every single time he steps foot on a course. The impressive round earned him the Empire 8 golfer of the week award for the week ending Sept. 15. 

Schleicher has been putting up impressive scores for four years now, he shot a top five individual round each of his three previous seasons. So, being at the top of the leaderboard is not a new experience for him. It is something that needs to be more consistent from him if the Lakers are going to contend seriously for the conference championship. This being the ultimate goal for this team, Schleicher agrees with this sentiment. 

“I mean 3-1, with a tournament that was very tough in the end,” Schleicher said. “It is really what can’t we do. We are always looking at the conference championship as one of our biggest things.” 

The most troublesome moment of the season for Schleicher came Tuesday, Sept. 24 in Elmira. An uncharacteristic 88 was his final score after the 18th hole at Elmira Country Club. This is someone who can handle adversity though and was very honest about his performance. He is frustrated when someone mentions it to him, using it as fuel going into this weekend’s tournament. One that brings him to his home course. The ability to respond to adversity is what any coach and team asks from their leader. Perfection is not possible in the game of golf, but the ability to respond to adversity is always there. That is what coach Mike Howard wants to see from his senior golfer Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 at Oswego Country Club. 

“Absolutely, I expect him to rebound,” Howard said. “To be our leader and produce a good couple rounds. And to be up there towards the top of the leaderboard.” 

Schleicher sees the 88 as motivation going into the weekend, not just a not so distant nightmare from earlier this week. 

“I hope I can forget it,” Schleicher said. “It is motivation, it is not good. It is not a good score. It was mental errors and that is what I really need to work on. Me, not really thinking and going on auto-pilot. The front was just atrocious. The back, I kind of pieced it together and it was just like a regular game. I wish I could have it back, but it is what it is.” 

Ryan Fecco shot a 73 in Elmira on Tuesday, the best individual score at the tournament. He picked up the slack for Schleicher, and he would be the first to tell you that he wants to be right up there on the leaderboard every tournament. That is a good problem for Oswego State to have. The more these two battle, the better chance the Lakers take home a conference title. The two ultra-talented teammates see trading individual wins back and forth as friendly competition. 

“I guess it is a silent competition,” Fecco said. “But we care about the team first and are more worried about the conference championship.” 

Schleicher’s time as a Laker is coming to an end this upcoming spring, and he is a lot more than just a golfer. He loves talking with people and has a plan to continue that when he graduates. 

“Well, I have a marketing degree and I’m going to finish that up,” Schleicher said. “And I have a minor in communications. The A-list job would be pharmaceutical sales … I really like conversing and getting to know myself better.” 

Schleicher has a major chance to respond to adversity Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29 as the Laker are vying for a fifth straight Oswego Fall Invitational victory.

“Sky’s the limit I guess,” Schleicher said.

Graphic by Patrick Higgins | The Oswegonian