Oct. 4, 2002

By Linda Bouvet

SAULT STE. MARIE -

Lake Superior State junior Brad Ward has devoted the past year to playing in the toughest amateur golf tournaments in Michigan. His efforts have put him in contention to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title this weekend in Allendale.

Ward's best performances of the summer include a top-16 finish in match play at the Michigan Amateur and firing a 68 in the first round of the United States Amateur qualifier at The Heather course at Boyne Highlands.

"In the afternoon (during the U.S. Amateur qualifier), I shot a 78 and wound up missing the cut by five strokes," said Ward, who is striving for more consistency as he continues grooming for what he hopes will be a professional golf career.

Defending champion Andy Matthews, a University of Michigan graduate who is the cousin of LSSU teammate Mike Gietzen, knocked Ward out of the Michigan Amateur, but Ward was 10-under through 49 holes. He was also one stroke shy of qualifying for the Canadian Open held last April at Wild Bluff Golf Course in Bay Mills.

Ward won a prep regional title and earned Division I all-state honors at Okemos High School. He considered walking on at one of two colleges in Ohio until he was offered a scholarship by former LSSU golf coach Saul Phillips. Laker golfer Josh Valencic, a senior, gave Phillips the head's up on Ward, who wasn't highly recruited.

Ward's parents, Ian and Toni, both attended LSSU. Ian Ward played hockey for the Lakers from 1972 to 1976 and was a member of two NAIA National Champion Laker teams. This season, Brad Ward is LSSU's No. 1 golfer with a 74.9 scoring average. He has three top-five finishes in collegiate tournaments heading into the GLIAC Championship Saturday and Sunday at Grand Valley State University.

"It's been an up-and-down season, but not great by any means," said Ward, who followed a first-round 75 with a second-round 69 at the Bay Valley Invitational in Saginaw last weekend. "I haven't played up to my standards this fall."

Ward has struggled with putting at times. Iron play is the strength of his game.

"He's not happy because he has high expectations, which is great," LSSU golf coach Mike Fitzner said. "Compared to what Lake Superior has had in the past, his scoring average will easily be the best in program history."

Fitzner said Ward is capable of winning the GLIAC title. His challenge will be out-playing a strong Grand Valley team that is playing on its home course. "They have some of the best golfers in this league," Fitzner said. Ferris State, Northwood and Findlay also have strong teams.

Valencic (76.5) and Gietzen (79.5), a freshman, also have scoring averages below 80. Last Sunday's one-day team total of 293 at Bay Valley was one of its best in school history. "Our problem is we haven't been consistent, but we are definitely taking steps in the right direction," Ward said.

The GLIAC Championship is the Lakers' final event of the fall season. They resume competition in the spring, but are at a disadvantage due to the long Upper Peninsula winters. Last spring, Sault area courses weren't open by the time classes ended in May.

"Last spring I didn't pick up a club until I left school," Ward said. "We can't practice, but we deal with it."

Ward will play in competitive amateur tournaments in the Midwest again next summer, then plans to move to a warmer climate after he graduates. Last summer's schedule of events also included the Michigan Open, Golf Association Michigan Championship, Horton Smith Michigan Medal Play Tournament, U.S. Open Qualifier and Western Amateur Qualifier.

"Most of the people playing in these tournaments are college players," Ward said. "The biggest tournament is probably the U.S. Amateur. It's the one tournament that all top amateurs want to play. The U.S. Open qualifier is the toughest, but you don't really expect to qualify. If it happens, great."