Category Archives: golf

Weekend Preview

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The last time every Muhlenberg team was on the road, two weekends ago, it turned out to be a very successful day, with the Mules going 5-1 at McDaniel. How will the road trips go tomorrow? Here’s a short preview:

Men’s Soccer at Haverford (Saturday, 1:00)

The Mules (5-2, 2-1) look to bounce back from last night’s home loss to Swarthmore with a game against defending Centennial Conference runner-up Haverford (5-4, 2-1). The teams are currently tied for second place in the CC, just a point behind Swarthmore and Dickinson. Haverford’s lone CC loss was to Johns Hopkins, a team Muhlenberg beat.

The series has been one-sided since the start of CC play, with the Mules winning 17 of 19 meetings. The Fords’ lone series win during that span came in 2001 (the 1998 game ended in a tie). Muhlenberg won 2-0 last year.

Live stats: http://www.haverford.edu/athletics_stats/soccerm/statslive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/haverford.portal

Cross Country at Dickinson Long/Short Invitational

It will be the biggest meet of the season to date for both Mule teams, who took first place at Cedar Crest last week. The women, ranked seventh in the region, will compete against two of the teams ranked ahead of them – Dickinson (2) and Elizabethtown (6).

Results: http://www.motiontiming.com/node/85

Field Hockey at Dickinson (Saturday, 11:00)

Both of these teams were 5-12 last year. The Mules (5-3, 1-2) have already matched their 2011 win total, and the Red Devils (4-5, 0-3) are just one away. All five of Muhlenberg’s wins are by one goal, two in overtime, and Dickinson has played a pair of overtime games. Last year the teams played a wild game that came down to the final seconds, with the Mules holding on for a 4-3 win.

Volleyball at Dickinson (Saturday, 11:30)

Muhlenberg (8-5, 1-2) is looking to get back on the winning track after dropping back-to-back CC matches to Haverford and Johns Hopkins last week. Dickinson (1-11, 0-3) has lost seven straight. The Mules have not won in Carlisle since 2001 but took last year’s meeting at home, 3-1. 

Football at Susquehanna (Saturday, 1:00)

Muhlenberg (3-1, 2-1) looks to bounce back from its first loss of the season, last week to Johns Hopkins, against a Susquehanna team that, although winless in the Centennial Conference, is still dangerous. The Crusaders (1-3, 0-3) led undefeated Gettysburg in the fourth quarter last week and lead the CC with a plus-8 turnover margin. The Mules are plus-5 themselves and have not turned the ball over in their last 10 quarters.

Muhlenberg leads the series, 11-9, and has won both meetings since Susquehanna joined the CC for football. The Mules travel well, especially on defense – they’ve allowed one touchdown or fewer in five of their last eight road games.

Live stats: http://www.susqu.edu/athletics/livestats/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.americaonesports.com/partner_members.asp?id=297

Live audio: http://www.susqu.edu/wqsu-fm/88.9_wqsu-fm_the_pulse/wqsu_home.html

Women’s Soccer at Dickinson, 5:00

This will be Muhlenberg’s fifth game against an opponent ranked in the top 10 in the region. The Mules (3-6-1, 1-2) beat Johns Hopkins (3t), lost to Messiah (1) by three and suffered one-goal losses to Haverford (3t) and Wilkes (9t). Dickinson (6-2, 1-1), ranked sixth in the region, also lost 1-0 to Haverford and is coming off a 2-0 loss to Messiah. The Red Devils have won the last five series meetings, the last two by a final of 1-0.

Men’s Tennis at ITA Southeast Regional (Saturday-Sunday); Women’s Golf at Gettysburg Fall Invitational (Saturday)

Men’s tennis concludes its fall season; women’s golf plays the second of its three scheduled fall matches. 

Tennis tournament page: http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournaments/TournamentHome/Tournament.aspx?T=131284

 

Weekend Preview

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Not all of Muhlenberg’s campus will be packing up and heading to McDaniel tomorrow – just most of the fall athletes. Except for football, the teams will be playing their Centennial Conference openers, so it’s a big day. Here’s a look at the matchups, in order of game time:

Volleyball at McDaniel (Saturday, 12:00); vs. Goucher (Saturday, 2:00)

Two teams on the rise will try to get a leg up on the CC season. McDaniel (3-6) has already surpassed its win total from all last season, when it went 0-25, and Muhlenberg (6-3) is closing in on its 2011 total of 10 wins. McDaniel leads the all-time series, 15-5, but the teams have split the last four years, with all of those matches ending in 3-0 sweeps.

live video: http://www.mcdanielathletics.tv/

Men’s Soccer at McDaniel (Saturday, 1:00)

The regionally ranked Mules (3-1) rebounded from their first loss of the season to knock off Moravian, 5-0, on Wednesday. McDaniel is 2-3. Muhlenberg’s 31-7-1 all-time series lead includes a 16-2-1 mark in CC contests. The Mules are undefeated (9-0-1) in the last 10 meetings with the Green Terror, but from 2005 to 2009 the games were all decided by one goal, and the score was 2-0 the last two years.

live stats: http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/livestats/landing

Football at McDaniel (Saturday, 2:00)

Muhlenberg opened CC play with a 21-0 win against Franklin & Marshall last week; McDaniel, the only winless school in the league, lost to Moravian, 21-7. Bair Stadium used to be a house of horrors for the Mules, who went from 1990 to 2006 without winning there, but they’ve captured their last two games in Westminster. The Green Terror leads the all-time series, 22-17-3.

Through two games, Muhlenberg leads the CC in pass efficiency (146.3 rating), while McDaniel is last in pass efficiency defense (164.8).

http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/livestats/landing

Women’s Soccer at McDaniel (Saturday, 4:00)

McDaniel is off to a 3-0 start for the first time in 10 seasons. Muhlenberg is 2-3-1 following Wednesday’s 3-0 loss to No. 4 Messiah. The Mules are 7-0-1 in their last eight games against the Green Terror with six straight wins.

live stats: http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/livestats/landing

Field Hockey at McDaniel (Saturday, 6:30)

The grand finale matches up two teams looking to return to the CC playoffs. Muhlenberg is 3-1 for the first time since 2007, when it last qualified for the playoffs, and received votes in the national poll. McDaniel is 3-2 and averaging 3.0 goals per game; the Mules have allowed only five goals in four games. Muhlenberg leads 10-9 in a series in which the road team has won the last three meetings.

live stats: http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/livestats/landing

Men’s Tennis at Centennial Conference Invitational (Saturday and Sunday)

The Mules test themselves against the rest of the conference in an individual tournament.

Men’s Golf at Guy W. Kuhn Invitational (Sunday and Monday)

The Mules travel to Allegheny for their first two-day tournament of the season; when it’s done they’ll have played four official rounds in seven days.

 

 

 

 

Weekend Preview

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The second weekend of the 2012-13 athletic year features a volleyball tournament, a throwback soccer rematch, two spring teams opening up competition … and the football home opener with a coach going for a major milestone.

Football vs. Franklin & Marshall (Saturday, 1:00)

It’s the home opener for Muhlenberg and the Centennial Conference opener for both teams. The CC promises to be especially competitive this year after going 7-3 in non-conference games last week. Included in that record are the Mules’ 27-7 win at The Apprentice School and the Diplomats’ last-second 35-28 win against a Washington and Lee team that was 8-2 last year.

The defenses will be on alert to stop three hot quarterbacks. F&M’s E.J. Schneider was named CC player of the week after throwing for 270 yards and rushing for 110, while Muhlenberg QBs Dan Deighan and Joe Carlucci combined to pass for 337 yards.

F&M leads the all-time series, 52-42-1, although the Mules won last year’s matchup, 34-13.

Mule head coach Mike Donnelly enters the game with a career record of 99-61 and goes for his 100th win against John Troxell, who was his assistant at Muhlenberg for four years before taking the head reins at F&M.

live stats: www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/livestats/xlive.htm

live video: www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Volleyball hosts Buttermaker Tournament (Friday vs. Centenary, 3:00; vs. King’s, 7:00; Saturday opponents TBD, 10:00 and 2:00)

Coming off its rousing five-set win against DeSales on Wednesday, Muhlenberg hosts the 15th Buttermaker Tournament. The Mules (4-1) are seeking their first title since 2005. This year’s nine-team field includes defending champion Moravian as well as Salisbury, a team that went 32-4 last year and is currently receiving votes in the AVCA Division III poll.

live stats (first three Muhlenberg matches): www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/vblive/topview.htm

live video (first three Muhlenberg matches): www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

tournament page: www.muhlenberg.edu/main/athletics/buttermaker/index.html

Men’s Soccer at Ithaca (Saturday, 1:00)

One of the biggest wins in program history came in 1995, when the Mules beat Ithaca 4-0 in an NCAA quarterfinal game at Varsity Field to advance to the “Final Four.” Nothing of the sort is at stake here, although Muhlenberg (2-0) is ranked 11th in Division III. Ithaca is 1-1-1.

live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/ithaca/msoc/scoreboard.aspx

Women’s Soccer at Delaware Valley (Saturday, 12:00); at Gwynedd-Mercy (Saturday, 12:00)

The Mules (1-1-1) play a pair of games in the Philadelphia area this weekend. They played the same two teams back-to-back last year, winning both games by three goals.

live stats (Gwynedd-Mercy game): http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52208023/WS/xlive.htm

live video (Gwynedd-Mercy game): http://gmcgriffins.nmtvsports.com

Field Hockey at Drew (Saturday, 5:00)

The Mules (2-1) try to keep the momentum from Wednesday’s 2-1 upset of No. 9 Montclair State in their first road game of the season. Drew is 3-0 with three one-goal wins.

live stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/drew/fhockey/scoreboard.aspx

Men’s Golf at Gettysburg Invitational (Saturday, 10:30)

Men’s Tennis hosts Mule Fall Classic (Sunday, 9:00)

The men’s golf and men’s tennis teams open their spring seasons. The four-team tennis tournament features Moravian, New York Tech and Wilkes.

 

 

Senior Profiles: Golf

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With the spring sports season just about wrapped up, we will be taking a closer look at Muhlenberg’s senior student-athletes.

We continue with men’s and women’s golf. Seniors Matthew Cohen, Jon Heppen, Zack Meyers and Amanda Heiberger closed out their careers at the Centennial Conference Championships in late April.

 

Matthew Cohen

What’s the strongest part of your game? The strongest part of my game is definitely my short game.

What’s something interesting about you most people may not know? Something interesting is that I love my alone time even though I am an incredibly outgoing and personable person.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? My most memorable ’Berg golf memory was the first tournament I played in.

What’s your best off-the-course memory from your time here? Every time I get to spend with my close friends, because they are my life here.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to live and work in Manhattan in the financial industry.

What kind of teammate is Jon Heppen? Jon Heppen is one of the greatest people I have ever met. Not many people care as much as he does about his friends.

 

Jon Heppen

Do you have a favorite pro golfer? My favorite pro golfer is Ben Crane.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? Most my memorable Muhlenberg golf memory is shooting a 73 as part of the record-setting round of 294 at Penn State Harrisburg.

What was it like studying at Queen Mary College in London during the fall of your junior year? Studying at Queen Mary College was great, especially because there was a driving range 20 minutes away from the school.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to work in the government back home in Washington, D.C.

What kind of person is Zack Meyers? Zack is a good guy. He’s a really dedicated captain.

 

Zack Meyers

Do you have any superstitions or traditions on the golf course? I don’t really have any superstitions, just habits. I always carry one tee, ball marker and divot tool in my right pocket.

Do you have a favorite club in your bag? All of them.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? My most memorable moment was breaking the school record for lowest team score in a round.

What are your future plans? My future plans are to turn pro, or go to grad school

What’s Matthew Cohen like off the course? Matt Cohen is always Matt Cohen.

 

Amanda Heiberger

What’s something most people may not know about you that they might find interesting? I know how to do a Rubik’s Cube.

What’s your most memorable Muhlenberg golf memory? In the Ursinus tournament I was shooting uphill towards the green and overshot the hole. Luckily, there was a barn directly behind the green that my ball hit, and it bounced back onto the green. I then proceeded to sink a 40-foot putt. COMPLETE SKILL!

What’s your best off-the-course memory from your time here? The opening reception of my senior thesis exhibition was amazing. It was wonderful seeing all of my work come together.

What was it like studying abroad in Florence last spring? It was such an amazing experience. As an art major, it was awesome being surrounded by original Renaissance work. I loved being a part of the Italian culture and look forward to returning soon.

What are your future plans? I hope to work somewhere in the graphic design field, either at a design firm or for a magazine.

We’re Honored

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Muhlenberg held its annual Honors Convocation on Sunday, and the honorees included a good number of student-athletes, who won awards in a wide array of fields.

Here’s a list of the Mules and their impressive honors:

Michael Baer, Track & Field

The Leslie R. Anders Memorial Prize – Awarded to the senior chemistry or biochemistry major who has the highest academic average in chemistry or biochemistry after seven semesters.

The Class of 1969 Graduate Study Award – Awarded to a regularly matriculated senior who is entering a graduate or professional school in any area.

Devon Barber, Field Hockey, Softball

The Carol Emhardt Kuntzleman Memorial Award – Awarded to a sophomore or junior young woman who exhibits zeal for excellence and a high level of participation that characterized the academic work and extracurricular activities of Carol Emhardt Kuntzleman.

Alexandra Chili, Basketball 

Phi Beta Kappa

The Senior Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award – Awarded to an outstanding senior female athlete who has achieved high athletic as well as academic standards.

Nate Crossette, Cross Country, Track & Field

The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship – Awarded through national competition to outstanding sophomores or juniors intending to pursue graduate education in science or mathematics.

The Robert W. and Edythe M. Mull Award for Excellence in Mathematics – Awarded to a junior most outstanding in mathematics.

The Novartis Endowed Science Scholars Program Award – Awarded to a junior or senior science major who has achieved a 3.5 or higher grade point average in the major field of study and who has clearly indicated the intention to pursue post-baccalaureate work in the sciences leading to an advanced degree.

Phi Beta Kappa

Jon Flint, Track & Field

The Harry A. Benfer Memorial Scholarship – Awarded to a rising senior in good academic standing who promotes goodwill and who has an appreciation for all phases of college life, those being the characteristics most evident in the life of Harry A. Benfer

Amanda Heiberger, Golf

The Greek Leader of the Year Award – Awarded to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership within both the College community and the Greek system.

Andrew Henry, Cross Country, Track & Field

The Ralph A. and Mary A. Lichtenwalner Memorial Prize – Awarded to a senior with the highest major average in biology.

Tara Keegan, Track & Field

The Russell Fulford Award – Awarded to a junior with the highest average in economics.

The President’s Award for Outstanding Achievement and Promise for Postgraduate Work by a Junior – Awarded to juniors who have written excellent proposals and interviewed successfully, the first steps toward competition for nationally and internationally prestigious postgraduate awards such as the National Science Foundation or Fulbright.

Spencer Liddic, Basketball

The Senior Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award – Awarded to an outstanding senior female athlete who has achieved high athletic as well as academic standards.

Mark Mounayar, Football

The Wesley S. Mitman Mathematical Prize – Awarded to a senior most outstanding in mathematics.

Shelby Smith, Softball

The Caroline Willis Richardson Award – Awarded in memory of Caroline Willis Richardson to the senior softball player with the highest cumulative grade point average.

Nate Squire, Soccer

The Todd L. Romig Memorial Prize – Awarded to a junior who most exemplifies the true characteristics of the scholar-athlete.

Abigail Stryker, Track & Field

The Student Advisor of the Year Award – Awarded to the student advisor who best exemplifies and demonstrates leadership, commitment and academic initiative in the advising program for first-year students.

Jamie Weiss, Soccer

Phi Beta Kappa

Kimberlee Yalango, Cross Country, Track & Field 

Phi Beta Kappa

Athletes of the Week

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for contests between April 9 and April 14

Female Athlete of the Week – Samantha Mayden, Track & Field

Mayden ran the 5,000 meters in 17:13.55 at the Bucknell Distance Night, breaking the previous school record by seven seconds. She finished ninth in a field of 81, trailing only a non-collegiate runner and competitors from Division I and Division II. Her time is the ninth-fastest in Division III this season

 

Male Athlete of the Week – Christopher Lucarelli, Golf

Lucarelli shot a 74-74–148 to finish second at the Penn State Harrisburg Spring Classic, leading the Mules to a second-place finish. It was only the second time in the last 20 years that a Muhlenberg golfer shot below 75 in both rounds of a two-day tournament.

Weekend Preview

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It’s the middle of April – taxes are due, the Titanic has been down for 100 years, and even though softball and men’s lacrosse have the weekend off, there’s plenty of Muhlenberg sports action.

Women’s Tennis vs. Washington (Friday, 3:30)

Two teams that made the Centennial Conference playoffs last year are in a scramble to get back. Washington (5-3) and Muhlenberg (3-3) are in the middle of a five-team pack that includes Haverford (6-2), Dickinson (5-2) and Gettysburg (4-3). Those five teams are likely competing for three playoff spots, with Johns Hopkins and Swarthmore setting the pace at 6-0.

The Shorewomen are ranked eighth in the Atlantic South Region but have struggled since losing two of their top four players to injuries. Muhlenberg is coming off its most decisive win of the season, 8-1 against Ursinus.

Washington has won the last four meetings, including one in the 2009 CC playoffs. Last year’s 7-2 match featured many close sets.

Tennis vs. Johns Hopkins (Saturday, 1:00); at McDaniel (Sunday, 12:00)

A busy weekend of tennis for the Mules includes teams at opposite ends of the CC standings. For the women, Johns Hopkins is 6-0 in the CC and ranked eighth in Division III; McDaniel is 0-8 in the CC. For the men, 16th-ranked Hopkins is 6-0 and McDaniel is 0-5. The Muhlenberg men have not lost to McDaniel since 1982.

Baseball vs. Swarthmore (Friday, 3:30); at Gettysburg (Saturday, 12:30 doubleheader)

The Mules will try to halt their five-game skid at home against Swarthmore. Muhlenberg has not lost at home to the Garnet since 1995, extending the streak last year on a walkoff home run. The Mules then travel to Gettysburg, whom they swept last year.

Live stats (Swarthmore): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/baselive/xlive.htm

Live video (Swarthmore): http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Live stats/audio (Gettysburg): http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal#

Women’s Lacrosse vs. Bryn Mawr (Saturday, 1:00)

After three straight one-goal losses, the Mules are looking to take out their frustrations against a Bryn Mawr team that has not won a CC game since 2000.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/wlaxlive/xlive.htm

Live video: http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Track & Field at Kutztown Multi (Friday); at Coach P Open (Saturday); at Bucknell Distance Night (Saturday)

The Mules are sending three athletes to Kutztown, six to Bucknell and the rest of the team to Moravian in a busy weekend.

Live results (Coach P): http://moraviansports.com/sports/mtrack/coachP/index

Live results (Bucknell): http://www.bucknellbison.com/livestats/c-track/12results/

Men’s Golf at Penn State Harrisburg Spring Classic (Friday-Saturday); at Lafayette Invitational (Sunday-Monday)

In preparation for the three-day CC Championships coming up in two weeks, the Mules will test their stamina by playing on four straight days.

 

Weekend Preview

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Four softball games, four baseball games, two lacrosse games, two tennis matches, 36 holes of golf and the first track meet of the outdoor season … there’s a lot on the docket this weekend, with most teams competing at home or nearby. Hopefully, the forecasted rain will not turn this busy schedule into an April Fool.

Softball vs. Washington (Saturday, 1:00); at Gettysburg (Sunday, 1:00)

Two Centennial Conference playoff teams square off on Saturday in the Mules’ first home CC doubleheader of the 2012 season. Muhlenberg beat Washington, 8-4, in the first game of the playoffs en route to the CC championship last year. The teams split in the regular season. The Shorewomen are off to a 4-0 start in CC play, while the Mules are 2-0.

Live stats Game 1: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/softlive/xlive.htm

Live stats Game 2: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/softlive2/xlive.htm

Gettysburg did not make the CC playoffs last year but is traditionally one of the strongest teams in the league, and one that gives Muhlenberg a hard time. The Mules have never swept the Bullets in a regular-season doubleheader, and they haven’t won a game at Gettysburg since 2000.

Live stats: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/gettysburg.portal#

Baseball vs. Ursinus (Friday, 3:30); at McDaniel (Saturday, 12:30 doubleheader); at Centenary (Sunday, 12:00)

The 16-6 Mules, who received 11 votes in this week’s D3baseball.com poll, look to continue their winning ways with three CC games and one non-league contest. Coming off Tuesday’s 11-5 win at Ursinus, Muhlenberg will try to complete its first season sweep of the Bears on Friday.

Live stats: http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/baselive/xlive.htm

Saturday’s twinbill is against a McDaniel team that, like Muhlenberg, has shown great improvement: The Green Terror is 11-4 after winning 12 games all of last season. The Mules, who have scored in double figures in 13 of their 22 games, will try to solve a McDaniel pitching staff that has a sparkling 2.40 ERA.

Live stats: http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/livestats/landing

Sunday’s non-conference matchup will be played at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J., the home of the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League.

Live stats: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52657926/Baseball/xhome.htm

Lacrosse doubleheader vs. Washington (Saturday, men at 1:00, women at 4:00)

Both Mule lax teams are seeking their first CC win of the season. Both lost by three at Washington last year but beat the Shoremen/women on their last trip to Allentown.

Live stats (men): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/mlaxlive/xlive.htm

Live stats (women): http://www.muhlenberg.edu/sports/wlaxlive/xlive.htm

Live video (both): http://www.livestream.com/muhlenberg

Tennis doubleheader vs. Washington (Saturday, men at 11:00, women at 3:00)

After evening their CC mark at 2-2 with a dramatic win vs. Franklin & Marshall last night, the Mule women look to make it two in a row against a Washington team that reached the CC championship match last year. The Mule men are looking for their first win of the spring.

Men’s Golf at McDaniel Spring Invitational (Saturday and Sunday)

The Mules compete in one of their biggest tournaments of the season, with 18 teams scheduled to tee off in the two-day event. Among their opponents will be five other CC teams.

Live stats: http://www.mcdanielathletics.com/sports/mgolf/live-stats

Track & Field at Lafayette 7-Way Meet (Saturday)

At their first outdoor meet of the season, the Mules will be the only Division III squad. The other teams scheduled to compete are Division I Lafayette, Lehigh, St. Joseph’s, Rider and Monmouth and Division II East Stroudsburg.

Foul-Weather Fairway

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If you’re walking across campus this winter and think you see someone carrying a Muhlenberg golf bag through the snow (if it ever comes) into the Life Sports Center, don’t worry; you’re not going crazy.

Yes, the sub-freezing temperatures and occasional flaky white stuff may not be exactly what comes to mind when thinking of golf. But thanks to a new addition to the LSC, the Mule golfers can get the feel of playing some of the best courses in the world, even if Lehigh Country Club is a winter wonderland.

Click the picture to see a photo gallery for the simulator

Muhlenberg recently installed a P3ProSwing projection simulator to help the golf team stay on top of its game during the offseason. The system consists of a platform with sensors connected to a computer and a giant screen durable enough to take the full brunt of even the hardest of drives.

The sensors pick up the speed, trajectory and angle of the clubhead upon impact with the ball. The computer then takes that data and projects the ball’s flight onto the 9-foot-by-10-foot screen, almost like a life-sized video game.

But the simulator does a lot more than any Wii or Xbox. The computer also precisely measures key metrics of the swing, such as swing path, club face angle and club sweet spot, to help the golfers make precise corrections to their alignment and swing.

“It’s really important to be able to see where your club is at impact,” said sophomore Christopher Lucarelli. “It helps you visualize what’s off and what adjustments you need to make. It makes it a lot easier to make quick fixes to your swing.”

For the Mule golfers, winter used to be a time of waiting for the snow to melt and hoping their swings wouldn’t get too rusty during the time off. They could hit foam balls in the John Deitrich Field House and work on their short games, but it was a far cry from being out on the course or driving range.

The simulator may not have quite the same feel as being outside, but the players can actually hit real golf balls. They can also work on every club in the bag, something they could not do as easily before.

“It’s pretty cool to be able to come in here, even if it’s snowing outside, and be able to really work on your game,” said junior Brandon Davis. “Being able to hit real balls is huge, and this about as good as it gets in the winter without going to Florida.”

In addition to the driving range feature, the simulator also includes the option of playing 20 different courses from around the world, many of which are featured on various professional tours. A putting green was installed near the simulator, giving the Mules the chance to work on every part of their games.

The simulator may be plenty of fun, but senior Jon Heppen said it is an even more valuable tool. Everyone on the team is using the data gained to try to hone their swings for the start of the season.

And while the Mules’ first tournament may still be more than a month away, he said he can’t wait to see the results when the team heads to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to play a few rounds during Spring Break.

“I definitely think it’s going to help us this season,” said Heppen, who admitted he actually misses the novelty of hitting the foam golf balls from time to time. “It should be more of a smooth transition when we go outside, because we’ve been able to do a lot of work on our swings. It shouldn’t take as long for us to get readjusted when we can finally get out on the course, and hopefully that will lower our scores.

“And if we come back from Spring Break, and there’s snow on the ground, we’ll know exactly what to do.”