Sports: Men's Golf

Kaiser hoping for one last round with Wisconsin

It is often difficult to judge how valuable a player is to a team by statistics or results alone. Some of the most talented athletes can be distractions to their team through complaining or lack of effort. On the other hand, some players can often bring the most value to their team through their attitude and work ethic. This scenario holds especially true for Jeff Kaiser, a UW men’s golf team senior.

Kaiser, the only senior on the team this year, has been a valuable asset not only in competition, but also in his leadership skills.

 ”He’s just a competitor,” head coach Jim Schuman said.  “He’s done so many great things for us.  He may not be the guy who shoots the lowest scores, but on a day-in, day-out basis he’s done everything we asked of him.”

Although Kaiser struggled through a portion of the year, he used his struggles to help inspire his teammates.  For part of the season Kaiser wasn’t actually in the lineup, but he continued to work hard to earn himself a spot in the top group again. 

“I thought he showed the leadership … this year probably off the course more than anything else, how he handled himself when he wasn’t playing well,” Schuman said.  “He broke into the lineup just the last couple tournaments of the spring, kind of struggled with his game for a while there.  I think the way he handled that adversity off the course was his biggest role in terms of leadership.”

His hard work paid off last weekend at the Big Ten Championships at Michigan State.  Kaiser shot a 74, two over par, on Sunday to help Wisconsin to the third-best score in the final round.  Although it was not enough to lead the team into the top standings of the tournament, the effort shown by Kaiser was typical of how he handled himself this season. 

“I generally just try lead by example,” Kaiser said.  “I try and work hard always in practice or in the gym, in school, whatever we’re doing.”

It was this work ethic that guided the team, both coaches and teammates alike. 

“He’s meant a great deal to our team,” assistant coach Brian Brodell said. “I’ve learned a lot from him.”

Kaiser, one of only two captains on the team this year, may get another shot to demonstrate his leadership before his time at UW is done. If everything works out, the Badgers will compete again in the NCAA Regionals May 15. Seeking to improve on the team’s eighth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships, Kaiser is fired up. 

“I definitely don’t want to be done,” Kaiser said. “Hopefully I’ll get another opportunity.”

The thought of finishing his career didn’t actually occur to Kaiser until his final round at the Big Ten Championships. 

“[It] kind of hit me; this could’ve been my last round. It’s pretty sad,” Kaiser said. 

In addition to continuing his career as a Badger, Kaiser is also motivated by last year’s NCAA Regionals, where Wisconsin missed out on moving to NCAA Championships by one shot. 

“That was extremely disappointing,” Kaiser said. “There’s a lot of good teams out there.  We need to work harder and get it together at the right time.  Hopefully we’ll get the opportunity to do that.”

Regardless whether the team makes the regionals or not, the determination Kaiser has shown his teammates and coaching staff can only help make the team better in years to come.