Chapman’s men’s and women’s golf teams rounded out their year-long season at the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship tournament April 26 at the Morongo Canyon Golf Club in Beaumont, California.

After concluding  a full-length season, golfers and head coach Ming Lao agreed that their progress and success this season has led to a more positive outlook for next season. Sophomore business administration major Bradley Lu is one player that has been leading the team’s strong performances. 

“(Lu) placed fifth. I think he could have won, there's some parts of this game that he knows he needs to improve on and if he hammers that out, there's no stopping that kid,” Lao said. “He's got a pretty focused mind on what he needs to do. I'm just here to hopefully help him along.”

Lao, who has been the head coach of both of Chapman’s golf squads since 2013, knows that due to  the struggles of the pandemic, the team  focused on  rebuilding this year.

Standout freshman political science major Dylan Horowitz believes that not having many established returners to lead the men’s team was disappointing but motivating. 

“Personally, I love the game so much so for me, it's kind of like therapy when I go to the course and I get to practice, it just makes me happy,” Horowitz said. “I don't really need an external person pushing me. I think for some people it would be nice to (have) like an older, senior who can kind of be the vet on the (men’s) team, but we don't really have that.”

Senior kinesiology major Kristen Lee, a captain on the women’s golf team, finished 12th for her team, helping to place the women’s team in fifth for the season’s final tournament. 

The returning player appreciated how the team emerged from the previous season’s restrictions with a solid start to the fall season.  Throughout her years in Chapman’s golf program, Lee is glad to also have connected more with her teammates this past year.

“I would say I grew, but with the last two years and (COVID-19), (this year) was finally a full season,” Lee said. “The past year was pretty good (for the team) and I improved a bunch, so I am glad about that.”

Horowitz appreciates the dynamic of frequently working with the women’s team, and how the lack of upperclassmen on the men’s team has led him to look up to Lee.

“I’m going to miss ‘The Vet,’” Horowitz told The Panther when talking about Lee.

The influential senior member is looking to return in the fall to be a catalyst for the improvement of not only the women golfers, but overall structure for the team too.

“(Lee) is going to come back, help the team and hang out with us, which is gold,” Lao said. “So I'm really looking forward to her support. And the three freshmen we’ve got coming in on the (women’s team) are rockstars.”

Horowitz agreed that having an alumna like Lee investing her time and energy back into the program she was so heavily involved in will be beneficial to the team’s progress.

“I think that's going to definitely help with the (women’s) team a little bit more, and I think it'll help (all golfers), because (Lee’s) going to set a little bit of a schedule and she's so kind,” Horowitz said. “(Lee) will be such a good addition, because (Lao) does a lot of it by himself.”

Lao’s goal for the next year’s team is to help refine the current players he has and incorporate the new talent onto the team. 

“​​Our next incoming class for fall 2022 is loaded; it's probably one of the best recruiting classes that we've ever landed,” Lao told The Panther. “(There are) a couple of Division I transfers that want to come to Chapman and play Division III golf versus their Division I history — which says a lot.”

Lao and Horowitz both look to gain momentum in the fall as new golfers and coaching will help take the team to a more competitive level.