Golf program enhances training with new simulator

Posted on Friday, October 13, 2023

The Panther Golf team got a welcome surprise at the start of the season when an indoor simulator, funded by a generous donor, was installed in the Callaway Education Building.

Head Golf Coach Shannon Lipham said this facility will increase practice time and provide an outlet for his student-athletes to utilize during severe weather.

“The Foresight GC3 simulator will help the team develop their skills off the golf course,” he said. “It gives them the information they need to play at their best.”

Lipham said this new addition will help them prepare for tournaments against top-ranked programs in their division.

“Nineteen of the Top 25 NCAA Division III golf programs had some type of indoor facility in 2021,” he said. “Being able to have this simulator really leveled the playing field.”

In 2022, LC’s Golf team ranked 53^rd out of about 300 Division III programs in the country.

“We were the youngest team in the country last year,” Lipham said. “Our freshmen are a year older and have a year’s worth of experience. I expect us to keep getting better.”

He said he is building on the foundation of former Head Golf Coach Lee Richter, who led LC to be one of the premier Division III programs in the country. During Richter’s tenure, the program won three conference championships and the 2003 United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championship.

“We’re working on getting this program back to where we’re competing not only for league championships but also national championships,” Lipham said.

 

Campus Notes

• Homecoming will be in full force Friday, Oct. 13 (today). Campus and community members are invited to come out for food, music and socializing at the Flashback Friday party at 6:30 p.m. at Outlook Plaza in downtown LaGrange.
• Phi Beta Sigma will host a step show Friday, Oct. 13 (today) at 7:14 p.m. in Callaway Auditorium.
• On Saturday, there will be a tailgate starting at 10 a.m. in the Callaway Auditorium parking lot. Red and Black Reunion Row will have a registration tent set up until the end of halftime. The Panther football game against Belhaven will start at 1 p.m. The 2023 Homecoming King and Queen will be announced at halftime.

        Other Homecoming events include an alumni open house (Saturday at 10 a.m., Lamar Dodd Art Center);       LC Musical Theatre’s show ‘Take It From the Top’ (Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m., Price Theater); Men’s Alumni Basketball Meet and Greet (Saturday, 10 a.m., Mariotti Gym); and the LC Alumni and Community Memorial Service (Sunday, 10:30 a.m., Chapel).

• Fall break begins on Thursday, Oct. 19. Classes will resume on Tuesday, Oct. 24.

 

Collegiate Enrichment Events

Dean Smith: When Basketball Became Church Work

Monday, Oct. 16

7 p.m., Bailey Room

• Religious Studies Lecturer Dr. Andrew Gardner will give a presentation about former University of North Carolina Men’s Basketball Coach Dean Smith, who helped integrate the team with the help of his church in 1967.

Speed Learning Languages: Catalan

Tuesday, Oct. 17

11:15 a.m., Multimedia Room 317, Lewis Library

• Senior Maria Riera Soriano will introduce students to her native language of Catalan. Catalan is a distinct language from Spanish and is one of four official languages of Spain and the sole official language of the small country of Andorra. The event is part of a series hosted by Director of LC Global Engagement Michele Raphoon and the International Students Club.

Move Your Bus: Enjoy The Ride

Wednesday, Oct. 18

9:30 a.m., Dickson Assembly Room

• A mid-week discussion to help students learn and identify personal strengths to excel throughout college and life.

 

Video of the Week

‘Take it From the Top’ at Price Theater

Experience LaGrange College Musical Theatre’s Homecoming production “Take It From The Top.” The show runs through Oct. 15. Show times are 5 p.m., Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Seating is general admission—no reservations are necessary. $10 for adults and free for children under 12.

 

Sports

Football

The Panthers lost 35-14 last weekend to N.C. Wesleyan. The team will face Belhaven during Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 14 (tomorrow), at 1 p.m.

Women’s Soccer

LaGrange played Piedmont and lost 1-0 on Tuesday, Oct. 10. The next time the team will compete is on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7:30 p.m., at Huntingdon.

Men’s Soccer

The Panthers lost 3-1 at Berea on Saturday, Oct. 7. The team will play Friday, Oct. 13 (today), against Belhaven at Panther Field. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.

Volleyball

LaGrange competed in a tri-match last weekend at Agnes Scott. The team lost both matches to Agnes Scott and Maryville. On Thursday, LaGrange lost 3-0 to Belhaven. The Panthers travel to Berea on Saturday, Oct. 14 (tomorrow), to compete in a tri-match against Berea and Wesleyan.

 

Panther Calendar

(Please note that schedules may change due to circumstances beyond our control. Please check www.lagrangepanthers.com to confirm.)

Friday, Oct. 13 – Men’s Soccer (Home) vs. Belhaven, 5 p.m., Panther Field

Saturday, Oct. 14 – Football (Home) vs. Belhaven, 1 p.m., Callaway Stadium

Saturday, Oct. 14 – Volleyball at Berea, 2 p.m., Berea, Kentucky

Saturday, Oct. 14 – Volleyball vs. Wesleyan @ Berea, 4 p.m., Berea, Kentucky

Sunday, Oct. 15 – Men’s Soccer at Mississippi University for Women, 5 p.m., Columbus, Mississippi

Monday, Oct. 16 – Golf (Rounds 1 and 2) at Barton College Fall Intercollegiate, Snow Hill, North Carolina

Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Golf (Final Round) at Barton College Fall Intercollegiate, Snow Hill, North Carolina

Tuesday, Oct. 17 – Volleyball at Point University, 7 p.m., West Point, Georgia

Wednesday, Oct. 18 – Women’s Soccer at Huntingdon, 7:30 p.m., Montgomery, Alabama

 

In the Headlines

• Former LaGrange College football player finds new lease on life as a cheerleader after devastating injury, LaGrange Daily News, Oct. 7

Category: Community, Events, College

Keywords: Athletics, Homecoming