Lawrence University freshman golfer John Pechan has made quite a splash since joining the Viking golf squad earlier this fall.
Pechan placed seventh in his first tournament as a Viking, which has proven to be a disappointing finish by his standards. He followed up his seventh-place finish with a victory at the Ripon Invitational at Mascoutin Golf Course Sept. 19, and last weekend Pechan tore up Washington County Golf Course.
He opened the tournament with a pedestrian round of 77, putting himself in 16th place, but he remained within striking distance of the leaders, as the low score for the day was only a 73.
After the second day of the tournament, though, no one’s score even approached Pechan’s. After teeing off on the back nine and notching an even-par 36 through nine holes, and Pechan went on a tear to finish the tournament with the best nine holes in the history of the course.
After missing a short birdie putt on hole number one, the freshman from Bothell, Washington finished his day with seven birdies and an eagle. With a majority of the players still on the course, Pechan fired a course- and school-record 64 to run away with the tournament by six strokes.
The standout golfer said of his round, “I’m still in shock. I knew I could post a low score, but I never imagined that I could go that low.” His nine-hole score of 28, which included two chip-ins for birdies, was the first ever nine-hole score in the 20s at Washington County Golf Course.
This tournament was the last for the Vikings’ fall season. The official spring golf season will open for Lawrence April 28-30 with the conference tournament at Aldeen Golf Course in Rockford, Ill.
John Pechan has clearly proven himself a threat to win the conference tournament and has given the Vikings hope for their first team championship since 2005.
Golf Update
