From left to right Head Coach Jake Narro, Grant Glorioso, Bailey Smith, Paul Obermann, James Anstiss, Joris Etlin, William Meyers and Gustavo Leon. The Lions golf team came real close to winning the Southland Conference Championship, however despite not winning the ultimate prize, the team has still accomplished much this season off the golf course.
Courtesy of Amber Narro

The Lions golf team failed to capture their fifth Southland Conference Championship at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club after starting at first place in the first round. As the rounds went by and the wind conditions increased, the Lions steadily dropped to finishing at fifth place.

“The team’s performance at conference was a bit disappointing,” said golf Head Coach Jake Narro. “We started out so well but finished poorly. That always leaves a bad taste in your mouth.”

Despite the way this season has ended, the Lions still accomplished good things this season on and off the course.

“Once again we will have an unbelievable team grade point average and did more community service hours than ever before,” said Narro. “We have a great group of hard workers and just some great kids. We accomplished two great second place finishes as well as a couple of individual high finishes.”

This season was the last for Paul Obermann, James Anstiss and Gustavo Leon. Obermann remembers this season for their performances but also for the outcome.

“I have split feeling about the season,” said Obermann. “I am proud for all the accomplishments we had as a team and the ones I have made individually. Unfortunately, at the same time, I am also sad that we were not able to perform or at least finish a tournament in the way we hoped to. We had a great time and I enjoyed the season as a whole a lot. The only lingering shadow would be the end results which is not reflecting how good our season really was.”

Obermann was not discouraged by the results of the tournament.

“We are very well capable of leading a tournament and winning it and one bad round in the final day should not demotivate us or make us doubt our abilities,” said Obermann. “I think that will be important for the guys here next year.”

Anstiss is proud of his achievements that he has from playing for the Lions but also appreciates how his golfing skills have grown the past three years.

“My time here at Southeastern has been great,” said Anstiss. “I met a lot great people and have got to play a lot of good golf tournaments. It has really given me the opportunity to take my game to the next level.”

Obermann appreciates the personal growth he has experienced from attending the university and from playing golf. 

“All in all, playing at Southeastern and studying here was the best experience of my life so far,” said Obermann. “The school is fantastic and I enjoyed my time here a lot. Of course there is a lot of responsibilities but retrospectively, I have learned unbelievably much and the four years here have coined me as a student, athlete and first and foremost as a person. If I had the chance, I would do it again and again and recommend it to anybody else as well. It’s been the best four years of my life here.”

Both players will be returning to their native countries to continue their playing careers. Anstiss will remain here to partly finish up his amateur career.

“I am remaining amateur this year and playing a summer schedule here in the States and then going back home to New Zealand to play a summer schedule there,” said Anstiss. “I then plan on turning pro in 2018 and going to a qualifying school in Australia.”

Obermann will go home to finish his amateur career.

“I will return to Germany for the summer and play my last season as an amateur,” said Obermann. “I plan on turning professional in the fall and challenging myself on the European Tour to find out how good I really am.”

The Lions will still be busy in the off-season.

“The guys will play in numerous high level tournaments and recruiting has already started,” said Narro.