As the end of the season draws near, the Miami University men’s golf team prepares for perhaps its toughest challenge yet, the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Championship Tournament.

After failing to finish in the top half of the field the past two weekends, the RedHawk golfers have refocused and retooled this week in practice and plan to use the extra week of practice to their advantage before they travel to Illinois for the first round of the MAC Tournament May 4.

Head Coach Zac Zedrick has watched his team mature throughout the year, and though the results might not be where he would have wanted, he is nonetheless proud of how far the team has come.

“There’s been a lot of growth from the beginning of the year,” Zedrick said. “The results don’t show it at all and it’s difficult to have the boys experience this. But for us to create sustainable success we’re right on track, and I’m really proud of the progress this year.”

The first-year head coach said what he has emphasized the past month is focus in the face of adversity.

“The more difficult the golf course, the more fearless we need to play,” Zedrick said. “If you’re trying to wish it around the course you’re going to get your butt kicked. You’ve got to be fearless.”

Juniors Ben Peacock and Brett Tomfohrde each look forward to participating in their third MAC Championships this year, and both are recommitting to playing their own games in the next week.

“Mentally, we weren’t in the right place in the fall,” Peacock said. “We’ve made some real progress.”

Looking at the progress the team has made this year, the upperclassmen leaders are excited about the possibility of finishing the season strong.

“For me, I’m going to do a lot of range practice and keep it simple,” Tomfohrde said. “My goal for the MAC is not necessarily a resolve to score … I go in playing to win every match, so I guess it would be to win.”

As the RedHawks look to end the season on a high note, they are by no means satisfied. In the tune of their head coach, Peacock admitted though they are proud of what the team has accomplished, there’s much more to do.

“Focus on the process and the game will take care of itself. We’re not anywhere close to where we want to be,” Peacock said. “Everyone on the team is fully committed to work hard and keep improving.”

Asked what direction he thinks the team will go next year, Zedrick made it clear the season is not over just yet.

“We still have our best golf in front of us,” Zedrick said. “Whenever our season’s over, we’ll figure out where to go from there.”

It is with that focus and will to win that Miami enters into the MAC Championship, hosted by Northern Illinois University at the Rich Harvest Farms Golf Course in Sugar Grove, Ill. The RedHawks start play with 36 holes May 4, continuing with single rounds of 18 holes Saturday and Sunday May 5 and 6.