The 2021 fall left the Savannah State University men and women golfers in happy places.
The women's team claimed first place in its division at the Gulf Shores Invitational/Black College Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala., while the men's team was second.
Like a line drive off the tee meeting a flat fairway, SSU enters the spring on a nice roll, says coach Christopher Miller who is in his third year with the men's and women's programs.
"We came together as a team in the fall so we're excited about that," Miller said. "Winning begets winning and the team's mentality is 'let's go win some hardware.' "
During the first week of February, the program picked up right where it left off. The men placed third overall (first among four-year institutions) at the Wildcat Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala., and Ja'Davia McCallum placed second for the women individually.
On Feb. 20-21, Tiger senior Korbin Allan shot a 3-over 147 to earn top medalist in the men's division of the Alabama State University Spring Classic Invitational in Montgomery, Ala., to lead the team to a fifth-place finish among eight teams.
Miller said Allan and Nicolas Macsuga can be counted on for high finishes. Allan ended the fall season with a third-place showing in Mobile. And when the schedule started in February, Macsuga posted the Tigers' best score with a two-round total of 153, tied for seventh. Allan was a shot back, tied for 10th.
They both shot 1-over 73s to tie for the best second-round scores in Montgomery. Macsuga was tied for fifth overall.
"They both can shoot under par on a regular basis. Both have the ability to win tournaments (individually)," said Miller, seeming somewhat psychic before Allan's win.
The remaining six on the men's team are striving for similar consistency, Miller said. There are some similarities.
"They're all big off the tee," he said. "We have a core of guys who are all about the same. It's who's playing better on a particular day. It's exciting when someone who hasn't had much success gets over the hill and plays well."
Miller holds qualifying competitions to determine the five golfers who will travel to tournaments. Devin Smith, Todd Norman and Mark Greene earned the rights to travel to Montgomery.
"We want guys who are focused going on the trips and they'll show that in the qualifiers," Miller said.
Smith, a sophomore, displayed his wares by finishing sixth – three spots ahead of Macsuga – at Gulf Shores to end the fall.
Norman, a junior, and Greene, a freshman, are up-and-coming talents from local Savannah high schools, Benedictine and Woodville-Tompkins respectively.
Sophomore Lucas Parisi, junior Kaleb Dawson and senior Brett Ammons round out the team.
"The interesting thing is all these golfers can make that (difficult) shot more often then they don't so they have the confidence to go after it," Miller said. "Course management, knowing where the risky places on the course are, and do I really want to take that on. Golf is very much a risk-reward sport. That's a large part of my coaching, talking them through a shot selection."
Miller also directs the women's program, which began an exciting new chapter last summer by joining the Peach Belt Conference.
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, where most SSU athletic programs compete, does not offer championships in women's golf. The Tigers had been competing as an Independent.
Miller only talked about the SSU women individually in general terms, saying, "I don't want to put any pressure on them."
McCallum, a junior who has shot the team's four best rounds during the last three tournaments, led the team with an 85-83 168 to place second in Mobile to begin the spring. Miracle Goolsby, a sophomore, shot a 89-99 188 to pace the team in Montgomery.
Juniors Kaila Leonard and Maya Northcutt round out the roster.
"I'm optimistic about the women's program," Miller said. "The ladies have done just fine. We're building the program and I'm excited to see where we are in the future."
The SSU women will compete in the Peach Belt Championships on April 15 at the Sea Palms Resort on St. Simons Island.
Because of COVID, for the first time in two years, the SIAC will hold a men's golf championship. SSU will be in action April 11-12.
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