Final Swing - Marking the End of an Era

The final chapter of the Providence Christian College golf program was written as the team teed off one last time in their season-ending tournament. With bittersweet swings and heartfelt camaraderie, players, coaches, and supporters came together to mark the end of a program that has shaped the lives of student-athletes for years.

After multiple seasons of competition, personal growth, and unforgettable memories on the course, the college announced earlier this year that the golf program would be shut down following the 2025 spring season due to budget constraints and shifting college and athletic priorities. President Dr. Steven Kortenhoeven acknowledges the difficulty of the decision: "This was an extremely difficult decision because of the quality of staff and students in these programs, and losing these people and programs will be deeply felt by our community."

The final tournament, held at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, AZ, was less about the scores and more about the celebration of what the team has achieved over the years. The veterans reflected on their time in the program, while underclassmen played with pride, knowing this was their final round wearing the Providence Christian Sea Beggar on their chest. At the conclusion of the tournament, every institution had a male and female recognized for living out the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character. We would like to congratulate our 2024-25 California Pacific Champions of Character recipients, Liam Argue (men's golf) and Emily Cabbiness (women's golf), for emulating these very important characteristics. 

Head Coach Marc Lengtat was a Providence Christian College student-athlete for five years before having the distinct pleasure of returning upon graduation to lead the golf program for the past two years. Coach Marc shares about his time at Providence, saying, "I have enjoyed my time, both as a student-athlete and coach. I was blessed to be able to play college golf at Providence, which changed my life, and I am forever grateful for how the Lord worked in my life. I met my closest friends and have been mentored in ways I couldn't have imagined. Being a coach at Providence has been such a blessing in my life. My vision for this program was to create an atmosphere that glorified Christ in everything we did but be competitive and work hard on the course. This was a great year, with ups and downs, but in the end we grew as a team and as individuals. We lacked in numbers this year, but that meant every player got to compete and use this season to grow in their own ways. In my opinion, that is the best part of coaching." 

Coach Marc continued, "As the program comes to an end, I look back at the program's history. A lot of great people have graduated from the golf program, and they all left their fingerprints on Providence. It has been awesome to see the program continually grow, and I believe what was so different about it was why we did things. We do everything to glorify Christ. Our identity is found in Christ, not in materialistic things, which I worked hard to make as my mission and wanted the program to be known for as well."

Several student-athletes took time to reflect and shared their experience with the golf program and what they learned throughout the year. Lewton Reed replied, "My experience at Providence Christian College this year was great on and off the course. Everyone made such an unforgettable impact in my first year that I felt like I was at home. From the incredible professors to the friends I made along the way, their impact will ultimately last a lifetime. When it comes to the golf program, our head coach got to know each one of us personally, kept us accountable in our faith with the Lord, guided us in our golf game, and checked in with us. I could not be happier with how my first collegiate golf season went."

Alexa Ibarraran shared, "My experience playing golf for Providence Christian College has been truly unexpected but deeply meaningful. I never anticipated that this would be my team, but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that God led me here with a purpose. Although I am saddened that this chapter has come to an end, I am incredibly grateful for everything I have learned from Coach Marc, my teammates, and, most importantly, about myself. This year taught me what I need to do to improve, to compete at a higher level, and to succeed. While I am sad that this journey with this team has concluded, the lessons and growth I experienced under Coach Marc's leadership have given me so much to look forward to, not only in golf but in life."

Mateusz Zarzycki reflected, "My experience at Providence was really good. As an international student, moving to a new country was tough at first, but I learned a lot. I met new friends, got used to a different culture, and grew stronger in my faith. The golf program helped me stay focused and gave me a team to belong to. Juggling school and golf taught me how to work hard and manage my time. Playing golf in college made me love the sport even more and pushed me to get better every day. This season wasn't the best for me, even though I gave 100% in practice and tournaments. It was frustrating at times because the results didn't always show how hard I worked, but I learned to be patient and trust the process."

Liam Argue shared his thoughts on the last four years of collegiate golf with Providence Christian College: "The program was a dual life where you had to balance being the best student, the best athlete, and the best Christian you could be. You were continuously trying to improve in every area of your life. Most of the time you were scrapping in assignments, getting your swing good enough to go on the course, and diving into the Word whenever you had time. We've asked a lot of our student athletes, but I know I've developed myself as much as I could with the time I had." Argue expressed what he will hold on to the most: "What I will cherish the most is the brotherhood I was able to develop with my teammates throughout the years. I will also remember the competition as well as the fun times we were able to have together. It was a special experience to be around Godly guys that you were invested in their development of the game, where you still wanted to beat them but had a great time the whole way through."

With his collegiate golf career ending, senior Malik Edd looked back and reflected on how his experience has changed him to become better in the future: "My experience in the golf program at Providence has been an amazing time. The best part about my experience has been the lasting friendships that have culminated over the years. This season didn't turn out the way I had hoped, but it gave me something far more valuable—perspective. The inner conflict in golf is the most challenging part for most players. This conflict showed me that I cannot overcome the challenge with my strength, and I need someone else's help. It is through the guidance of the Holy Spirit that I can steer myself in the right direction. This last tournament especially reminded me that I am in need of Jesus in every aspect of my life, and that includes golf. So incorporating reading scripture and reminding myself that I am not in the driver's seat of my life has been the most rewarding thing I've done in my college career."

Some athletes expressed their gratitude for Coach Lengtat and how much he meant to them. Liam shared, "Coach Marc has had a big impact on me personally in how he has structured the program. He led the golf program where his athletes could have high expectations for themselves but always reminded the team to keep God first. That was always the goal. He taught not just how I can be a better golfer, but what it means to be a Christian golfer. While the program wasn't able to end how we might have envisioned, Coach accomplished what he set out to do. I feel as though I was able to grow in my understanding of the game as a form of praise to God and a way to live out my life for Him." Alexa added, "He's a great coach and an even better person who always pushes you to do your best and helps you along the way." Mateusz commented, "Coach Marc made a huge difference for me. He helped me join the team from the start and always supported me. He taught me how to improve my golf skills—like fixing my swing or staying calm during tournaments. But he also cared about me as a person. He showed me how to be a good teammate and never give up, both in golf and in life." Providence Christian College and the golf program will truly miss Coach Marc Lengtat and how impactful he was on and off the course.

The Providence Christian golf program had been a cornerstone for student-athletes looking for a non-traditional team sport, offering a unique space for personal development, individual achievement, and spiritual growth. Though not always in the headlines, the program quietly built a reputation for sportsmanship, grace under pressure, and a deep love of the game. They also developed some of Providence's strongest student leaders who rose through the ranks of on-campus leadership roles and eventually held several years of senior senate leadership positions held by golfers. With hard work and persistence, Coach Marc was able to recruit seven new golfers, five men and two women, for the upcoming year. Next season would have had the largest roster of men's and women's golf in program history with eight men's golfers and six women's golfers. The 2024-2025 women's team was the first complete women's roster in school history, and Coach Marc had established great momentum recruiting. 

To the seven golfers committed to Providence for the 2025-2026 school year, we wish you nothing but the best with your future endeavors and trust that God has your futures securely in His hands. To our underclassmen Emily Cabbiness, Reyana Gonzales, Alexa Ibarraran, Justina Mares, Lewton Reed, and Mateusz Zarzycki, thank you for choosing Providence Christian College to begin your collegiate golf career and grow in your faith in Christ. We hope for nothing but the best in your futures as you grow closer to Christ and seek out His plans for your lives. To our veterans, Liam Argue and Malik Edd, thank you for your commitment to Providence for the last four years, and we trust that God will use you to make a difference in this world. While the official scoreboard now reads final, alumni, families, and the community know the impact of Providence Christian golf will carry on long after the last putt dropped.