The latest polls are out, and for the Saint Leo Lions men’s golf team, there’s good news and bad news.
(Courtesy of Mike Carlson)
The good news is that they’re ranked 29th in the nation among Division II schools in the Golf World/Nike Golf Division II College Coaches’ Poll. The ranking, compiled in a collaboration with Golf World magazine, Nike Golf and the Golf Coaches Association of America, means that the Lions are considered a top program and one of the best in the country.
Now the bad news: That 29th-place ranking, while excellent when judging schools around the country, is good for just sixth in their own conference.
The Sunshine State Conference is comprised of nine schools, but seven of them received votes in the poll, and five finished in the top 25. The top-ranked team, Barry University, is a member of the SSC. The second-ranked team, Lynn University, is a member as well.
Nova, Florida Tech and Florida Southern also are conference schools that are ranked in the top 20, ahead of Saint Leo.
So where does that leave the Lions, who are considered a top golf program yet underdogs in their own conference? According to coach Chris Greenwood, it leaves them motivated.
“It’s like the old saying, ‘If you want to be the best you’ve got to beat the best.’ Competition is a good thing and being in a strong conference is a good thing,” he said.
While the rankings show the continuing strength of the SSC, they aren’t much of a surprise to Saint Leo or anyone else. Last year’s NCAA championship was decided in a close match-up, with Barry edging Lynn.
And Greenwood has a lot of experience with Lynn. While this is his first year coaching Saint Leo, he spent seven successful years at Lynn. He was named conference Coach of the Year twice and led the team to 16 tournament titles and four appearances at the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Tournament.
Greenwood said that taking over a struggling Lions program has had some challenges — he can’t use a history of success to recruit like he could with Lynn — but he believes that, with the right personnel, the team can achieve great things.
“As much as I can teach the game, it’s more about what’s inside of them and their desire,” Greenwood said. “It’s not all about what you’re born with (talent-wise). There has to something inside you and there has to be a drive. If you have the right individuals, it can be done.”
Greenwood has found one of those individuals in Ryan Gendron, a golfer who is contributing to the team in just his freshman year. In March, he shot a third-round 69, with a three-round total of 210, and earned medalist honors at the First Federal Southeastern Collegiate in Georgia.
Gendron believes the team has the right mentality and work ethic to keep improving.
“We’re all very positive, and we all push each other to do our best,” he said. “We practice every weekend when we don’t have scheduled practices.”
Gendron acknowledges that playing golf in college is different than when he played for Tampa’s Plant High School. Where his team might have faced off against one or two excellent players, teams are filled with talent at the college level.
But he believes that playing against those players, and the well-respected teams in their conference, is part of the fun and provides a good measuring stick for the Lions.
Gendron also believes the ranking shows the progress Saint Leo has made.
“I’m extremely happy from where we were in previous years,” he said. “We’ve made huge improvements, and (No.) 29 is not anything to be ashamed of. I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
And while Greenwood isn’t ashamed of the team’s ranking, he’s not satisfied with it, either. His goal is to see the team finish the year in the top 25, and make the Lions’ turnaround even more impressive.
“It’s nice to see us ranked 29, but I think we’re even better than that. We just have to get out there and play and show it,” he said.
Published April 2, 2014
