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Don Underwood is in his 18th year as the men's golf head coach at Grand Valley State.
Underwood has guided Grand Valley State to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including postseason berths in each of the past nine years. The Lakers have advanced to the NCAA National Tournament twice in program history, both coming during Underwood's tenure, finishing in 11th place in 1999-2000 and in 14th place in 2007-08. GVSU has finished in the top four at the NCAA Regional Tournament five times, including a second-place tally in 2004-05, third-place finishes in 2003-04, 2005-06, and 2007-08, and a fourth-place total in 2006-07.
Additionally, Underwood has led Grand Valley State to four GLIAC Championships, including the program's first-ever conference title in 1999-2000. The Lakers also won the league trophy in 2006-07 and put together back-to-back GLIAC Championships in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Underwood has been named the GLIAC Coach of the Year four times, earning the award following the 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2004-05, and 2008-09 seasons.
During 2010-11, Grand Valley finished third at the GLIAC Championships. The Lakers shot an overall team score of 904 (+52) and finished behind Ferris State and Wayne State. Four Lakers finished in the top-20 scorers at the league tournament. Junior Travis Shooks tied for sixth while Senior Josh Burt tied for 13th place. Grand Valley State won the GLIAC Preview event in April and finished in the top four at the Lake Superior State Invitational (second), the Great Lakes Region Invitational #1 (third), The Arendsen (second), and the Tusculum Invitational (third). GVSU placed 6th at the NCAA Midwest/South Central Super Regional in Georgetown, Kentucky.
In 2009-10, GVSU captured back-to-back GLIAC Championships by shooting an overall team score of 881 (+29) and winning the league title by 20 strokes. It was the fourth conference championship in program history and the third in the past four years, as three Lakers finished in the top-six scorers at the league tournament. Underwood also coached the first GLIAC Freshman of the Year in Laker history, as rookie Chase Olsen won the league's Freshman of the Year award. Grand Valley State also won the Findlay Spring Invitational and finished in the top four at the Al Watrous Memorial Invitational (second), the Great Lakes Region Invitational #1 (third), the Motor City Invitational (fourth), the Great Lakes Region Invitational #2 (fourth), the Great Lakes Region Invitational #3 (fourth), the NKU Spring Classic (tied for fourth), and the Wisconsin Parkside Invitational (tied for fourth). GVSU placed 13th at the NCAA Midwest/South Central Super Regional in Duncan, Okla.
During the 2008-09 season, the Lakers won the third GLIAC Championship in program history, setting a GLIAC 54-hole record with a score of 863 (-1) at the league tournament. It was GVSU's second conference championship in three years. Grand Valley State also captured a team victory at the Northern Michigan Invitational and finished in the top-four in 10 different tournaments: at the NKU Invitational (second), the Grand Valley State Invitational (second), Great Lakes Region Invitational #2 (tied for second), the Indianapolis Invitational (third), the NCAA Region Tournament #1 (third), the Northwood Invitational (third), the Great Lakes Region Invitational #3 (third), and the Tusculum College Invitational (fourth). GVSU placed ninth at the NCAA Super Regional Tournament, which was held at The Meadows Golf Course in Allendale, Mich.
In 2007-08, Grand Valley State won six tournaments and finished in second place in four more tournaments, highlighted by a second-place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Super Regional in Findlay, Ohio. The Lakers took home team titles in the Ferris State Invitational, the GVSU Laker Invitational, the Saginaw Valley Invitational, the Wisconsin Parkside Invitational, the Ashland University Invitational, and the Great Lakes Region Invitational #3. GVSU advanced to the NCAA National Championship in Houston, Texas and finished in 14th place.
Throughout the 2006-07 season, Underwood directed the Lakers to six first-place finishes, including the GLIAC Championship tournament title after firing a three-round score of 881. Steve Larson finished as the top individual after firing a 214, which featured rounds of 78-66-70. Larson's 66 in the second round is the best single-round score in program history. Underwood also guided the team to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Division Great Lakes Super Regional and led the team to two first-place finishes at the University of Findlay Outback Steakhouse Invite and the GVSU Fall Invitational.
During the 2005-06 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Super Regional, Steve Larson won the individual title posting a three-round score of 211 (-5) to enter him into the NCAA Division II Men's Golf National Championship, where he placed 41st. Under Don's leadership, Larson placed second at the Wayne State University Motor City Invite, as the Lakers claimed victory by firing a two-day score of 607 (301-306). The Lakers also won the NKU Spring Invitational as Larson and Kyle Murphy each tallied a two-day score of 142 and placed fourth.
During the 2004-05 season, Underwood pushed the Lakers to a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II Men's Central Great Lakes Super Regional. The Lakers fired a two-day score of 574 (291-283) at the Great Lakes Regional, led by Josh Orler's first-place score of 138 (70-68). Underwood's coaching guided the Lakers to four victories at the GVSU Fall Invitational, the NKU Spring Regional Invitational, the Riverman Invitational, and the Findlay Alltel Invitational.
In 2003-04, Kevin Kremer was dubbed GLIAC Men's Golf Athlete of the Year. After three rounds of the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional, the Lakers finished third, with a total score of 911. Underwood also led the Lakers to a victory at the Regional Qualifier #3 by a 12-stroke margin. Kremer claimed the individual title, firing a two-day score of 144 (69-75). Underwood pushed the team to a third-place finish at the GLIAC Championship, with Kremer leading the effort, shooting a three-round total of 214 (73-73-68). The Lakers also tailed three additional victories at the Northern Michigan Invitational, the GVSU Fall Invitational, and the Ashland Invitational.
GVSU earned an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Men's Great Lakes Regional during the 2002-03 season. Underwood coached the team to a second place finish at the 2002 GLIAC Golf Championship with a three-day score of 912 (304-311-297). Kevin Kremer fired a 225 (77-77-71) earning second-place at the event. GVSU tied for third place at the NCAA Division II District IV - #2 and Don led the Lakers to five other meet victories at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional Fall Tournament, the NMU Invitational, the Bay Valley Intercollegiate, the Gannon University Invitational, and the Great Lakes Spring Qualifier.
During the 2001-02 season, Underwood guided Eric Cowles to the NCAA Division II Championship. Cowles tied for 73rd place as an individual with a four-round score of 317 (80-74-80-83). Under Don's leadership, the Lakers placed fourth at the 2001 GLIAC Golf Championship (298-312-314), and Cowles and Bill Schmidt tied for fifth-place, each firing a three-round score of 228. The Lakers tied for second at the NCAA Division II Regional #3, as Cowles fired a two-round score of 142 (71-71) to tie for second-place. GVSU earned third-place at the NCAA Division II District 4 - #2. Kevin Kremer led the Lakers' effort posting a two-round score of 144 (70-74). Underwood pushed the team to four victories, including the NMU Invitational, the Ferris State Men's Invitational, the Tusculum Invitational, and the Findlay Spring Invitational.
In 2000-01, Ryan Mouw and Eric Cowles earned Golf Coaches Association of America NCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention plaudits and All-GLIAC honors under Don's leadership. Eric Cowles was dubbed the GLIAC Most Valuable Player. Underwood guided the Lakers to 11 top-five finishes, including three first-place finishes and six second-place finishes. Grand Valley State was the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II District IV after a first-place and two second-place finishes in three District IV tournaments.
In 1999-00, Grand Valley State claimed its first ever men's golf GLIAC Championship. Eric Cowles led the Lakers' effort, firing a three-round total of 894 to win the individual title. The Lakers posted a fourth-place finish at the NCAA North Regional, and finished second in four different matches throughout the season.
