University of North Texas Athletics
Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography
New Energy Has Men's Golf Ready For Season
9/19/2019 9:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
DENTON – In recent years, the North Texas men's golf team has had a consistent group of upperclassman leaders, including several four-year contributors that have since moved on.
Now, with six newcomers entering this season, head coach Brad Stracke will look to a new group of upperclassmen who have been waiting in the wings for the leadership role, and it starts with junior Viktor Forslund.
Forslund was an all-freshman selection on the Conference USA team two years ago and was named to the all-conference team last year, and now he's the team's elder statesman coming off a sophomore season that saw him lead the team in scoring average with a 73.21 mark.
"He's a great leader on and off the course," Stracke said. "He's a good student and does all the right things and works hard in the weight room. He's a perfect candidate to be the leader of this team and he's taken on that role and is excited about it."
He'll lead his team into a new season this weekend when the Mean Green tee off the season at the Trinity Forest Invitational beginning Sunday and concluding Tuesday in Dallas at the Trinity Forest Golf Club.
Forslund said the six newcomers, including five freshmen, have brought a much needed dose of energy to the team after a 2018-19 season that saw the team perform below its own expectations, thanks to several factors but most notably injuries to three of its top players over the course of the season. This year, UNT has three consistent contributors returning in Forslund, sophomore Lenny Bergsson and redshirt junior Kristof Ulenaers, who missed the last part of the spring with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
"The new guys are bringing a lot of energy and spirit and I feel like our team chemistry right now – this is the first couple of weeks and it's even better now than it was like last spring," Forslund said. "The team chemistry is important and playing good will only help. If we're having good chemistry and everyone wants what's best for the team, that'll only help us.
"We know we should be a better team than we were last year," Forslund added. "We had some injuries and stuff, but I played well in the spring so I was happy with my game, but I wasn't happy with how the team played. I'm excited about this year. I'm ready to show everyone how good we are."
One of the freshmen Stracke and Forslund both expect to contribute immediately is Zak Karkaletsos, who comes to UNT from Spain, though he is originally British.
"It's very exciting getting ready for my first tournament," Karkaletsos said. "Every time you get a new experience, it's always different. Sometimes it can be challenging and sometimes it can be easy. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. I'm playing well, so that's always the first step. We'll see what happens. Hopefully it goes well."
Though he wants the team to perform well and bounce back from a disappointing spring, the freshman said he knows what he has to do in order for the team to have a chance to perform.
"I always say each guy on the team should strive to be the best," Karkaletsos said. "If I can be the best I can and the best on the team, that's great for me. In order to be a good team, it's no good if people are just happy to be here. Everyone should want to be the best. That's how I see it, and that's what I try to do.
"Looking at the team, it's a very young team with new guys but I feel the potential we have is very high," he added. "This year I think you'll start to see this team really grow as we play some. There's a great vibe on the team and we all get along really well. It's going to be a very positive year."
The schedule features several new tournaments, including trips to Hawaii and California, and Stracke said he made the schedule because he's confident this year's squad can handle it. They will also host the third annual Maridoe Intercollegiate at their home course - Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
"This is probably the most difficult schedule we've put together since I've been here," Stracke said. "I did that because I believe in this team and I believe we're going to be good this year. We're traveling a lot to some new events but that's good with a new team. It was a good time to change up our schedule. It's going to be nice to see what they can do against some of the best teams in the country and hopefully we can beat some of them."
Follow along with the Mean Green throughout the season on Twitter and Facebook, as well as MeanGreenSports.com.
Now, with six newcomers entering this season, head coach Brad Stracke will look to a new group of upperclassmen who have been waiting in the wings for the leadership role, and it starts with junior Viktor Forslund.
Forslund was an all-freshman selection on the Conference USA team two years ago and was named to the all-conference team last year, and now he's the team's elder statesman coming off a sophomore season that saw him lead the team in scoring average with a 73.21 mark.
"He's a great leader on and off the course," Stracke said. "He's a good student and does all the right things and works hard in the weight room. He's a perfect candidate to be the leader of this team and he's taken on that role and is excited about it."
He'll lead his team into a new season this weekend when the Mean Green tee off the season at the Trinity Forest Invitational beginning Sunday and concluding Tuesday in Dallas at the Trinity Forest Golf Club.
Forslund said the six newcomers, including five freshmen, have brought a much needed dose of energy to the team after a 2018-19 season that saw the team perform below its own expectations, thanks to several factors but most notably injuries to three of its top players over the course of the season. This year, UNT has three consistent contributors returning in Forslund, sophomore Lenny Bergsson and redshirt junior Kristof Ulenaers, who missed the last part of the spring with a shoulder injury that required surgery.
"The new guys are bringing a lot of energy and spirit and I feel like our team chemistry right now – this is the first couple of weeks and it's even better now than it was like last spring," Forslund said. "The team chemistry is important and playing good will only help. If we're having good chemistry and everyone wants what's best for the team, that'll only help us.
"We know we should be a better team than we were last year," Forslund added. "We had some injuries and stuff, but I played well in the spring so I was happy with my game, but I wasn't happy with how the team played. I'm excited about this year. I'm ready to show everyone how good we are."
One of the freshmen Stracke and Forslund both expect to contribute immediately is Zak Karkaletsos, who comes to UNT from Spain, though he is originally British.
"It's very exciting getting ready for my first tournament," Karkaletsos said. "Every time you get a new experience, it's always different. Sometimes it can be challenging and sometimes it can be easy. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. I'm playing well, so that's always the first step. We'll see what happens. Hopefully it goes well."
Though he wants the team to perform well and bounce back from a disappointing spring, the freshman said he knows what he has to do in order for the team to have a chance to perform.
"I always say each guy on the team should strive to be the best," Karkaletsos said. "If I can be the best I can and the best on the team, that's great for me. In order to be a good team, it's no good if people are just happy to be here. Everyone should want to be the best. That's how I see it, and that's what I try to do.
"Looking at the team, it's a very young team with new guys but I feel the potential we have is very high," he added. "This year I think you'll start to see this team really grow as we play some. There's a great vibe on the team and we all get along really well. It's going to be a very positive year."
The schedule features several new tournaments, including trips to Hawaii and California, and Stracke said he made the schedule because he's confident this year's squad can handle it. They will also host the third annual Maridoe Intercollegiate at their home course - Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
"This is probably the most difficult schedule we've put together since I've been here," Stracke said. "I did that because I believe in this team and I believe we're going to be good this year. We're traveling a lot to some new events but that's good with a new team. It was a good time to change up our schedule. It's going to be nice to see what they can do against some of the best teams in the country and hopefully we can beat some of them."
Follow along with the Mean Green throughout the season on Twitter and Facebook, as well as MeanGreenSports.com.
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