With low numbers coming in for the Pacific men’s golf team, the Boxers will be gaining experience with the competition in the fall to be prepared for a tough spring. The Boxers have a hard working group that is going to have to make every stroke count.
 
“We’re kind of scrambled,” said Head Coach Richard Warren. “We didn’t get the numbers that we thought we were going to have, but we are going to be a solid group.”
 
Last season, Pacific finished eighth out of nine teams at the NWC Fall Classic, but improved to a fifth place finish at the NWC Tournament. The two rounds at Canyon Lakes GC in the season’s most important tournament proved to be Pacific’s best two rounds outside of their home invitationals. The Boxers carded a 311-312—623 to finish at plus-47 for the tournament. Pacific finished nine strokes behind fourth-place Pacific Lutheran and 27 strokes behind tourney-champion Linfield. Their fifth-place finish followed eighth places at the conference’s other two majors, the Fall and Spring Classics.
 
For this season, the Boxers plan to play a more consistent game. With the low number of players, the Boxers are given many opportunities to improve their game in competition.  
 
“We’ve got more guys that are golf oriented,” said Warren. “That’s going to be the difference is that we’ve got people who love the game and that’s what they want to do.”
 
The Boxers are trying to keep everyone healthy to be able to participate and gain the experience needed to perform in the top of the Northwest Conference.
 
“We’re so low on numbers,” Warren said. “Generally, we have about eight to 10 kids and we only have five or six, so keeping people healthy is going to be the biggest key and focus.”
 
Due to some players playing other sports in the fall, the Boxers have a small group, but a good mixture to help the Boxers compete at a high level of play.
 
The Boxers return Gage Josi (Sr., Scappoose, Ore.), who studied abroad last spring. He played in all four tournaments in the fall. His best performance came in the Pacific Fall Invitational, where he shot a 76 on the first day and an 87 on the second day to finish tied for 25^th.  Josi averaged an 87 in the four tournaments.
 
“He is a good player, very solid,” Warren said. “If he can get back to where he was and improve a little bit, he should be okay for the year.”
 
Another returner, Jesse Bethke (So., Cave Junction, Ore.) didn’t see a lot of action last year due to a full squad, but will be seeing many opportunities to compete.   
 
“This is going to be a new experience for him,” said Warren. “He has skills, so whether he can put them together in competition and make it work is going to be his challenge. He is long and can hit the ball a long ways.”
 
Last season, Bethke competed in five tournaments. Bethke placed 18^th in the Salem Collegiate Cup after shooting 105. Through seven rounds, Bethke averaged a score of 94.
 
Josh Mau returns for the Boxers after taking a year off from school. Mau played in the 2010-2011 season, competing in 19 rounds with a 81.4 average.
 
“He was the number four as a freshman,” said Warren. “He is stronger and more mature in the ways of golf and could be a major player in the conference.”
 
Newcomer, Mitch Gaylord, will be experiencing a lot of competition in the fall, where he will gain the experience needed to compete in the spring.
 
“His thing will be getting into competition and learning what his game is all about,” Warren said. “He is a really hard worker and everybody is always ready to get into competition, but at this point the more practice we can get him, the better.”
 
Thomas Hubbel also joins the team for his first season.