Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint where a winning team got its edge. Connecting the dots in the case of Pomona Pitzer is easy.
John Wurzer, the head coach of the Golfweek D3 October Classic, described the win as the biggest in the history of the program. He could confidently point out the long holes in Sandestin at Baytowne Golf Links. Wurzer coaches a team with longer players than average, so he had been chewing over par-5 scoring.
Wurzer stated that “the first day they were 9-under on par-5s.” It was a really impressive performance for us on those holes, and it separated us the first morning.
Pomona Pitzer completed the par-5s in 11-under for the week. Carnegie Melon finished second to the Sagehens and played these par 5s in 4 over. Pomona Pitzer finished 54 holes with a score of 15 over par, 18 shots better than Carnegie Melon. Carnegie Melon had defeated Pomona Pitzer at the Fall Preview two weeks earlier.
It’s simple math and Wurzer didn’t have intricate plans that his players could not follow, even though they would have been able to if he had.
Wurzer, who is in his sixth year as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer University, says that his program draws athletes of the Ivy League type. He said that the athletes must be outstanding students. They are poised, smart, aware and coachable.
In Claremont (California), Pomona College & Pitzer College – two separate colleges that have combined into one athletics program – are part of the “5Cs”, which also includes Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, and Harvey Mudd College. The latter three compete in the combined Claremont-Mudd-Scripps athletic program.
Pomona-Pitzer competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference along with perennial powerhouse programs Redlands and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. It’s a talent-rich area, and Wurzer says his team has never participated in a tournament without at least one top-8 school. Two imposing par 5s are all that separates the proverbial “bar” from you. That’s the distance to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, which won the 2018 D3 women’s golf title.
Wurzer stated that “our main competitor for golf is only 1,000 yards away on the same campus.”
Wurzer came to Claremont in 2006, and Pomona Pitzer was an accomplished program that hadn’t won the conference title. The Sagehens have won the conference title for the last two years. His team has already won twice this season and been runner-up on two occasions.
He said that the two trips to the east at the beginning of fall were primarily about competing. “We came to this event as it was one of two best regular season events in the United States – for the fall.”
Katelyn Vo led Pomona-Pitzer to a second-place finish at the Golfweek tournament. She was the senior leader of the team. Vo was one over par, and three back of Washington University St. Louis’ individual medalist Sydney Kuo.
Sydney Kuo, Washington University-St. Louis
Jessica Mason (fourth), Emily Chang (T5), and freshmen Eunice Ye and Rachel LeMay also bring experience.
Wurzer stated, “We have been working to get up to the level that is in our conference. They set the bar so we just kind of tried to reach it and exceed it.” “Winnings like these just show us that we have talented players who have bought into the program.” Our conference has pushed us to achieve our goals because we can only do that by beating them.
Wurzer, like any college coach, knows that success doesn’t happen over night. His history as a Southern California native is filled with teaching, building programs, and simply observing the game at all levels.
Wurzer started the Torrance High Girls Golf Program in 2000. She coached her team to the first of many California Interscholastic Federation State Girls Golf Titles in 2005. Angela Park was the 2007 LPGA rookie of the year, as well as LPGA players Jane Rah and Jenny Shin.
Wurzer was noticed for his work in high school golf. His players were recruited by top schools or went directly to professional golf. He spent four years at USC as Director of Golf Operations, where he learned from then-head coaches Chris Zambri, and Andrea Gaston.
Wurzer, who was an assistant coach at his alma matter, Long Beach State University, found a position as head coach at Pomona Pitzer. He now coaches both the women’s and men’s teams.
Wurzer has a wealth of knowledge after so many years immersed in high-caliber, elite golf. Wurzer has seen notable careers in many directions, from Lizette Salis, for instance, to Stewart Hagestad.
He said: “I’ve been through a lot, and that gives me a perspective. I can coach these players in a similar but very different way. I can use the lessons I’ve learned from SC as well as when I was at Long Beach State.”
His time at Pomona Pitzer has shown that the ultimate success of any program is determined by the players. What about the identity? The coach builds it slowly and carefully.
