2009 Season Preview

The 2008-09 season proved to be a successful one for the Northwestern College men’s golf team as they concluded the season with a sixth place finish at the GPAC championship out of 11 teams. Head Coach Mark Bloemendaal and his 13-player squad finished the season with four top-five finishes out of 13 events and carried a stroke average of 319.1. “We had a number of meets where we lacked the depth needed to post the kind of scores to put us in the top 3-4 teams. There are a greater number of teams with good players, and that requires that we continue to improve and recruit the best players we can find”. Bloemendaal returns four of the top six golfers this year and brings in a strong recruiting class with several players who could contribute immediately.

For the second straight year, Luke Vermeer (Sioux Center, Iowa) led the Raiders with a 76.2 scoring average in 2008-09, finishing in the top 10 in six events, including the overal Vermeer l championship at the Red Raider Invite. Vermeer earned all-conference honors two years (2007 and 2008), was named GPAC and Regional Player of the Year in 2008 and qualified for the NAIA championship as a sophomore. “Luke is an outstanding team leader and appears committed to making his final season his best. He will be counted on to set the standard for our younger players and I fully expect that he will deliver”. After three seasons with the Raiders, Vermeer holds the fourth-lowest career scoring average (77.2) in the program’s history and is looking to return to the national tournament. Senior Jon Roberts (Mitchell, Neb.) ranked third on the team in 2008-09 with an 82.3 scoring average in his first year with the Raiders after transferring from York College (Neb.). He placed in the top 10 three times and finished in the top 25 in five events. Sophomores Ross Kiewiet ( Roberts Grundy Center, Iowa) and Aaron Rozeboom (Sioux Center, Iowa) were the other top golfers for Coach Bloemendaal’s squad, averaging 83.9 and 83.6 as freshmen. Rozeboom recorded three top -25 finishes, two of them during the spring season. “Our upperclassmen will be challenged by a strong recruiting class that will improve our depth significantly from last year. We are anxious to see what this team is capable of doing”. Other players returning are senior Hans Vander Plaats (Hinton, Iowa) and sophomores Spencer Gort (Rock Valley, Iowa), Eric Posthuma (Pella, Iowa) and Michael Shields (Kearney, Neb.).

Joining the list of returners is a strong recruiting class featuring three players who earned all-conference accolades in high school. Michael Clark (Spencer, Iowa), Johnny Schwaller (Coon Rapids, Iowa) and Michael Dykema (Bellflower, Calif.) are all coming off outstanding high school careers and will be looked upon to compete for a varsity spot. “These three players provide a solid foundation for the future of NWC golf. All have had excellent high school careers and have played in competitive tournament settings. We are thrilled to have them here”.

The Raiders open conference play on Thursday, Sept. 17, on their home course, Landsmeer Golf Club, in Orange City, Iowa. The second round (of four) will be played in Lincoln, Neb. on Oct. 6 and the final two rounds will occur in the spring.