DELAND, Fla. -- The Stetson University men's golf team is preparing for the spring portion of its 2025-26 season with a sense of clarity that has been building for months.
Results mattered in the fall and, while the Hatters delivered plenty of them, development mattered more, Head coach Danny Forshey believes his program made significant strides as the calendar turns toward the championship stretch. Stetson heads into the spring confident in its preparation, strengthened by internal competition and anchored by a culture that has sharpened its focus.
The Hatters open their spring schedule Feb. 22-24 at the Dorado Beach Classic at TPC Dorado Beach in Puerto Rico, a destination Forshey has circled not for its scenery, but for its opportunity. After that, Stetson will host the Sam Ryder Intercollegiate March 2-3 at the Hills Course at LPGA International before competing in its remaining three spring tournaments leading into the ASUN Conference Championships on April 21-23 in Valdosta, Georgia.
For Forshey, the anticipation surrounding the spring is rooted less in projections and more in process.
"The start of the spring is the most excited I've been about a team in a long time," said Forshey, in his fifth season leading the Hatter program. "I don't know what the results are going to be, but I know our preparation is really positive."
That preparation paid dividends during a productive fall season. Stetson recorded four top-five finishes in five tournaments and claimed the team title at the Furman Intercollegiate, an early benchmark for a lineup that features both proven veterans and emerging contributors.
Graduate transfer Matthis Lefèvre led the way, earning medalist honors at Furman and posting a team-best 70.0 scoring average during the fall. The French standout recorded par or better scores in 11 of 14 rounds and fired six rounds in the 60s, providing immediate depth and stability at the top of the lineup.
Senior Gaspar Glaudas, another Frenchman and the defending ASUN medalist, followed closely with a 71.3 scoring average. Simon Engman, Gabriel Lindahl and Rasmus Ronnberg each averaged under 73.0, underscoring the quality depth that has become a hallmark of the program.
While the numbers were encouraging, Forshey views the fall as a foundation rather than a finish line.
"I think we learned a lot about our team," he said. "Guys were stepping into new roles, replacing players we lost, and figuring out who we are. Now it's about reinforcing our standard and continuing to get better."
That standard, Forshey said, is rooted in discipline, conditioning and attention to detail — traits he believes define sustainable success. Practices emphasize repetition, accountability and mental toughness, often with drills intentionally designed to be uncomfortable.
"We make it hard on purpose," Forshey said. "We're not playing against anybody else except ourselves. We're trying to play to a standard."
The Hatters have leaned into that approach throughout the winter, increasing their focus on fitness and conditioning while sharpening short-game precision. Forshey believes that commitment to preparation builds confidence long before the first tee shot.
"Preparation is how you get confidence," he said. "Control what we can control. We want to show up in Puerto Rico and be able to say we've done everything we could to be ready."
That mindset reflects a broader shift within the program under Forshey's direction — one that embraces the role of underdog while refusing to be defined by it. Forshey believes the team has discovered the hunger that has fueled some of Stetson's best seasons.
"We're an underdog with a chip on our shoulder," he said. "I don't know if we've had that recently, but we've definitely got it now."
The culture that has emerged is increasingly player-driven. Forshey said the team has taken ownership of its routines, with players managing individualized training schedules and holding each other accountable without constant oversight.
"They're putting in more work without me there than when I'm there," Forshey said. "That's when you know it matters to them."
Leadership has developed organically within a roster that blends international experience with youthful upside. Lefèvre, who transferred to Stetson with an established competitive résumé that includes an impressive victory as an amateur in a professional tournament, has set the tone through consistency and quiet example.
"He is one of the best players that's ever come through here," Forshey said of Lefèvre. "I think he's a future tour player and he hasn't scratched past the surface of what he is capable of yet."
Glaudas brings a similar presence, having led the Hatters and qualifying for the NCAA postseason championships a season ago. Forshey believes both players are still ascending, even with their accomplishments.
"They've been there, but they haven't peaked," he said. "That's the exciting part."
Behind them, Engman, Lindahl and Ronnberg represent the next wave on the Hatter leaderboard. While their experience at the highest collegiate level is still developing, Forshey said their games are ready for the opportunity.
"You don't have experience until you do," Forshey said. "They're about to get their shot."
Combined with additional talented golfers in Jackson Hicks, James McNair and newcomer Thanattasorn Supinraj, that balance of experience and opportunity has fostered a sense of collective purpose. Forshey said the team has embraced the idea of playing for something larger than individual results.
"When you're playing for each other, every shot matters," he said. "It changes how you think on the golf course."
Stetson's schedule is designed with that growth in mind. Forshey acknowledges the challenge of building a nationally competitive slate, but said the immediate focus remains narrow.
"We're focused on the first tournament," he said. "We want to be ready to go win Puerto Rico. That's it."
The Hatters will need that focus within an ASUN Conference that Forshey believes is among the strongest in the country. Each year, multiple teams are capable of earning NCAA at-large consideration, making consistency throughout the season critical.
"To win our conference tournament, you have to play really, really good," Forshey said. "You can't bank on anything."
Stetson has navigated that reality before. Two seasons ago, the Hatters earned an at-large NCAA Championship bid after finishing fifth at the conference tournament — a reminder that performance across the entire season carries weight.
"You never know how it's going to shake out," Forshey said. "All you can do is prepare."
Preparation, however, is an area where Stetson feels well-positioned. The program's facilities provide resources that Forshey believes rival those of many nationally ranked teams. He credits longtime supporter Sandy Edinger for playing a pivotal role in elevating the program's infrastructure.
"Our golf facility is phenomenal," Forshey said. "Without Sandy's support, and the support of a number of people, it'd be much harder for us and the women's team to compete. I'm truly happy we have such a strong foundation of support, combined with first-class facilities, a transformational university and a fantastic golf course at LPGA International to help our program and our golfers to be the best they can be."
With the pieces in place — talent, depth, facilities and a clearly defined culture — the Hatters enter the spring with optimism grounded in effort rather than expectation.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Forshey said. "But when we've had this feeling before, things have usually been pretty good."
As Stetson prepares to tee it up in Puerto Rico, the message remains consistent: control the controllables, trust the work and let the results follow.
Article partially generated with FanWord.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
