SIOUX FALLS – Earlier today the NSIC released its 2022 Men's Golf Coaches' Preseason Poll and Players to Watch. The University of Sioux Falls was picked to finish 9^th in the conference and Mason Weeks was named USF's Player to Watch.
 
The USF Men's Golf team will look to bounce back from a disappointing end to the season in 2021-22 after placing 10^th at the NSIC Championship. Their lone team and individual victory came less than a week before the NSIC Championship at the Augustana Invite. Jack Evans, who graduated this last year, claimed the individual title in that tournament and proved that the Cougars would have a significant need at the top of their roster in 2022-23.
 
"I'm excited about our men's season. I'm counting on Mason, a sophomore transfer from Morningside, and our freshmen (Mats Lund, John Young and Devon Verhasselt) to play major roles along with junior returnee Gavin Metz." Said Head Coach Wade Merry, "Plus, we have five guys returning (Austin Boomsma, Anthony Cylkowski, Bronson Vasa, Jimmy Clark and Cole Harste) who got valuable tournament experience last year. I expect us to be much more competitive this season."
 
Enter the newcomers; Lund, Young, Verhasselt, Garrett Everitt, and Weeks, a group Head Coach Wade Merry is very excited about. Young played at Rapid City Stevens High School. Verhasselt comes from Hutchinson High School in Darwin, MN where he averaged a 74 in 18 holes and was a three sport varsity athlete. Everitt played high school golf at Faith Christian Academy and comes to the golf team as a sophomore after spending a season with the USF Football team. Lund was a standout golfer at Interlake High School in Bellevue, WA where he led his team to conference and district championships in the fall and won the Sea-King District individual title.
 
Weeks comes to USF as a transfer from Morningside where he helped the team to a 13^th place finish at the NAIA Championship last season. The sophomore will begin his USF career as USF's Player to Watch after shooting an average of five-over 77 last year with a career best round of two-under 69.
 
"Mason is a really good player who I am expecting to make an immediate major impact on our team. He was an important player last year on Morningside's team that qualified for the NAIA National Championships. His championship experience and great skills will instantly make him a valuable asset to the team."
 
The Cougars will play in five tournaments during the fall and will open the season at the Central Region Fall Preview in Winona, MN on September 6^th and 7^th. USF will also host a tournament for the first time in a long time with the USF Invitational teeing off on October 10^th and 11^th at The Falls Golf Course in Larchwood, IA.
 
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