DETROIT (5/16/2014) -- When you have a starting line-up that consists of 80% underclassmen, just to have a chance at a championship is a job well done and that is what the University of Detroit Mercy men's golf accomplished during the 2013-14 season.
 
With two freshmen and two sophomores in the starting five for much of the season, including the Horizon League Championship, the Titans showed why they are one of the most successful teams in conference history by coming just a few strokes short of extending their HL best seven titles to eight. 

"It was a bit disappointing that we didn't win because our goal is always a championship," said head coach Mark Engel, who just closed out his 24th season as head coach with six of UDM's seven titles during his tenure. "You want to see your team get better each week and we did that throughout the season as our average came down in every tournament, and we made a great run at the Horizon League Championship."  

As a team, Detroit averaged a 299.12, the lowest since it posted a 296.31 during the 2009-10 season, and had four top-five finishes, including taking second at the Horizon League Championship, just three shots behind Cleveland State.
 
CSU might have come into the season as the favorite to win the Horizon League, but UDM made a dash for the trophy in the final round. Detroit trailed the Vikings by six heading into the final 18, but the red, white and blue came roaring back to put the pressure on them and just fell short at the end.
 
"I was very proud of the way the guys played and how they kept going at it," said Coach Engel. "We have a lot of the guys coming back and they all know how close we came this year and that will make them work even harder." 

Throughout the season, Detroit had some other great moments, including recording the 11th best 54-hole score in school history with an 869 tying for third at the Cleveland State Invitational. UDM then etched another mark in the record book by totaling a 586 for a share of third at the Bradley Invitational and a number that is fifth in school history in a 36-hole tournament.
 
The Titans were led all season by senior

Among the highlights on this year's team were two freshmen who played more like upperclassmen, especially at the end of the year.

and Aaron Knutson. Shaw saw action in seven tournaments on the year, including all five in the spring, and was fifth on the team with a 79.05 average, while Knutson was in the starting line-up for all four fall events as well as the spring opener and tallied a 79.07 average.
 
Knutson set career marks in a round and 54-hole tournament on the year and Shaw posted his best 36-hole number and tied for 27th at the Horizon League Championship.
 
"Both Josh and Aaron work really hard and they will be back ready to go. They have seen this team come close in their first two years and they want to win a championship," said Coach Engel.
 
Two seniors might be departing the team in Leonard and Kyle Benford, but with a bevy of young talent returning and some newcomers on the way, Detroit should be able to find itself competing for championship in 2015.  
 

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