At the helm of the UW-Eau Claire men’s golf team this season is a new face, veteran golf professional Jim Maguire.
Maguire replaced Eric Anderson this past July as head coach for the men’s golf team. Anderson, who had coached the team for the past 16 months, stepped down after taking a new job as director of golf at the Hillcrest Country Club.
Maguire, once a four-year collegiate varsity player at UW-Stout, has been the head golf professional or assistant golf pro at Wild Ridge Golf course (2004), Bass Lake Country Club in Antigo (1998 to 2003), Town & Country Club in St. Paul (1997), Prairie du Chien Country Club (1994 to 1996), Eau Claire Golf and Country Club (1991 to 1993) and Northwood Golf Course in Rhinelander (1989 to 1991). While in high school and college, he also worked at the Tuscumbia Golf and Tennis Club in Green Lake (1983 to 1988).
With its new head coach now in place, the team is looking forward to a good season. Its group objective is to “get to nationals and win nationals, because we feel we are very capable of accomplishing that goal,” junior Grant Lissick said.
Four of the team’s top five players last year are returning for their third straight year, as well are four other very experienced players from last year’s team.
“We are also really excited about the new guys coming into the mix,” senior Derek Pirkl said. “They are all solid players who could step into the rotation right away and help us out.
“The new players will complement our team tremendously; they have good work ethics and a strong will to win. These two qualities are essential for success at this level.”
Maguire said the new players absolutely are able to play at the collegiate level.
“It’s exciting to see the talent,” he said. “This group here, which is largely freshmen with a few transfer students, is kids who have really improved and worked their game. This season’s team is as deep as Eau Claire’s men’s golf team has ever been.”
The team’s practices start anywhere from 2 to 3 p.m. Players hit balls for about 20 minutes and then plays rounds of golf.
“We practice until when everyone feels they’ve accomplished what they wanted to for the day,” Pirkl said. “This though usually doesn’t happen until sunset.”
As far as the team getting along, Lissick said that from the few practices it has had together, each new guy will bring a lot to the team.
“We have never had a problem with team chemistry and all hang out together on weekends and outside of practice,” he said.
The team’s opening competition is the Nebraska Wesleyan Invite, Sunday to Tuesday in Lincoln, Neb.
Maguire said, “It’s tough now with school starting, but we found the top 12 players, and now it’s just a matter of finding the top five for the traveling team, which will be tough because the whole team is capable of making the top five.”
