The Washburn golf team is prepared to tee it up this upcoming spring season. After a fairly good start and somewhat sour end to the fall season, the Ichabods look to execute better on the course this spring.

“We thought we played pretty well, but we didn’t take advantage of opportunities like we needed to,” said senior golfer Chris Grause.

The Bods finished third in the Missouri Golf Association Division II Regional Preview in Jefferson City, Mo., only five shots off the winning team score. Afterwards the Bods went westward for the Otter Invitational in Seaside, California. Grause led Washburn with a 9-over 225 score to finish in a tie for 22nd out of 79 golfers. Along with Brian Walker, Nathan Hoefflin, Riley Piles, and Sam Schulte the Bods were able to capture a ninth place finish out of 15 teams at the Black Horse Golf Club.

“We’re happy we went down there and competed with some of the best teams in the nation,” says Grause.

Fellow senior golfer Piles felt the same way as Grause about the fall season.

“There were times we played really well as a team. It was a good season,” said Piles.

The Ichabods returned most of their top five from last year’s team only losing lone senior Miles Christensen. Christensen, now a graduate assistant for head coach Doug Hamilton and the Bods, was considered the leader of the team for the past few years.

“He was a person we huddled around,” said Piles.

“He was always someone you can count on for a consistent score,” said Grause.

It’s Piles and Grause’s turn to pick up the slack for the loss of Christensen. Piles led the team at the Missouri Regional Preview while Grause was the top finisher in Seaside. Piles agrees that he needs to be more consistent but he believes Grause is the new go to man.

“Chris had a good tournament and if he can be a little more consistent we can have all five of us playing well,” says Piles.

Both players agree that there really is no true consistent player to post a solid score. The recent warm weather could be a turning point for the team though.

“It’s been really beneficial. The last two years we weren’t even able to get outside before our first two tournaments,” says Piles.

The team was able to take a break from the year long season to regroup and become mentally focused again.

“Make it to regionals,” said Piles. “That’s the number one goal. Have a good showing there and maybe even go to nationals.”

WU takes to the course March 5 in Austin, Texas, for the St. Edwards Invitational.