BEREA, OHIO --  The 2015-2016 Baldwin Wallace University golf team has a goal of returning to the top of the Ohio Athletic Conference and making its first trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament since 2013-2014.

Second-year Head Coach Wayne Schneider returns five veterans from last season's team (one of the five, senior Aaron Harden, also plays soccer) and has a talented group of seven freshmen who he feels have the ability to help take his Yellow Jacket team to the next level.  The questionmark right now is how soon the newcomers can adjust to the college game and begin to make an impact.

This year's team will be led by returning juniors Scott Schroeder (Aurora), Weston Lucas (Columbia Station/ Christian Community School) and Matt Kershner (Independence), Harden (Mentor) and fellow senior Connor Duplin (North Canton/ Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas). Schroeder and Lucas are returning All-OAC players, and Kershner is a three-year starter.

Schroeder leads the returning players this season with a 78.58 stroke average per 18 holes and shot a career-low 72 on two separate occasions. He enters his third season with a 78.38 career stroke average. Kershner was third last season with an 81.42 stroke average and had a career-low 74 on two separate occassions, including at the 2015 OAC Tournament. He has a 80.54 career stroke average.  Lucas played his first season of golf at BW a year ago and  was fourth with an 81.63 stroke average and had a career-low 76 in two separate rounds at the OAC tourney.

Duplin played sparingly last fall and averaged 84.0 in four rounds. He has an 86.29 career stroke average. Harden joined the team just after spring break and averaged 98.0 in five rounds. He is one of BW's top men's soccer student-athletes.

In freshmen Brad Blaine (Brooklyn), Logan Dwelle (Sandusky/ Perkins), Jason Garnet (North Royalton), Jack Kyle (Bay Village/ Bay), Hunter Miller (Frankfort/ Adena), Adam Morris (Grafton/ Midview) and Drew Savage (Canal Fulton/ Canton Central Catholic), Schneider feels he has seven extremely talented newcomers who can both push the upperclassmen, have an impact and make his team stronger and deeper.

The Yellow Jackets open the 2015 fall season at The College of Wooster Gatorade Classic at the Zoar Village Golf Course on Saturday and Sunday, September 5-6.  BW also will play at the annual OAC Fall Invitational (Sept. 13-14 at the Alliance Country Club), host the Yellow Jacket Invitational at the Grey Hawk Golf Club on Sept. 19, at the annual John Carroll University Pat Flowers Invitational at the Shaker Heights Country Club on Sept. 21 and at the University of Mount Union Invitational (Sept. 26-27).