Hermes leads 'Necks in Ohio
Ryan Ferguson
Issue date: 10/6/06 Section: Sports
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Carding a personal-best round of six-under-par on his way to a tie for fourth place at the Xavier Invitational, senior Ben Hermes was named Mid-Continent Conference Golfer of the Week.
"I think what we're seeing out of (Hermes) so far this year is what he's capable of and what he's worked hard to get," said coach Mel Blasi. "He's one of the top golfers in our district, there's no doubt about it."
Having not seen much individual success last season, Hermes has improved to become Western's top finisher in two of the three tournaments so far this season, including a first-place finish in Iowa. Hermes had missed the Michigan Intercollegiate to attend a family function.
"(Hermes) is as hard a working player as we've ever had here," Blasi said. "He worked a long time on his putting and didn't seem like he was getting a whole lot out of it, but he's putted the ball extremely well and he's really converted some key opportunities for birdies at the right times."
As a team, the Leathernecks (-6, +5, -5; -6) finished 11th out of the 18-team field. The Top Three teams at the invitational were host Xavier (-34), Austin Peay State (-24) and Maryland (-21), respectively. But as Blasi said, it was a privilege just to be invited.
"We've been trying to get in that tournament for about three years because it is such a good field of competition," Blasi said. "We knew that the competition would be really good. It was an honor to be there and a lot of the competition we played against are teams like us - in the Top 100."
Senior Tim Streng (+1, -4, E; -3) finished tied for the 27th spot. While Streng has been struggling thus far, Blasi said if his putting improved, he would be competing for the top spot each and every week.
"I think that (Streng) has struggled a little bit converting some key putts and key saves, but from tee to green has played extremely well," Blasi said. "I look for him to start making those putts and he'll be right up there at the top."
"I think what we're seeing out of (Hermes) so far this year is what he's capable of and what he's worked hard to get," said coach Mel Blasi. "He's one of the top golfers in our district, there's no doubt about it."
Having not seen much individual success last season, Hermes has improved to become Western's top finisher in two of the three tournaments so far this season, including a first-place finish in Iowa. Hermes had missed the Michigan Intercollegiate to attend a family function.
"(Hermes) is as hard a working player as we've ever had here," Blasi said. "He worked a long time on his putting and didn't seem like he was getting a whole lot out of it, but he's putted the ball extremely well and he's really converted some key opportunities for birdies at the right times."
As a team, the Leathernecks (-6, +5, -5; -6) finished 11th out of the 18-team field. The Top Three teams at the invitational were host Xavier (-34), Austin Peay State (-24) and Maryland (-21), respectively. But as Blasi said, it was a privilege just to be invited.
"We've been trying to get in that tournament for about three years because it is such a good field of competition," Blasi said. "We knew that the competition would be really good. It was an honor to be there and a lot of the competition we played against are teams like us - in the Top 100."
Senior Tim Streng (+1, -4, E; -3) finished tied for the 27th spot. While Streng has been struggling thus far, Blasi said if his putting improved, he would be competing for the top spot each and every week.
"I think that (Streng) has struggled a little bit converting some key putts and key saves, but from tee to green has played extremely well," Blasi said. "I look for him to start making those putts and he'll be right up there at the top."
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