Vilseck senior making a successful return to the links

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Vilseck’s Finn Horgan was barred from the golf course – at least on a consistent basis – for two years while focusing on his main sport: soccer.

The senior joined the academy at 2. Bundesliga club SpVgg Greuther Fürth after his freshman season. The coach didn’t allow the right winger/attacking midfielder to compete for the Falcons, despite his third-place finish at the 2023 DODEA European golf championships.

So Horgan only got out to the links once every four months with his father.

Over the summer, Horgan moved to a new soccer club, SpVgg SV Weiden in the Bayernliga Nord in the fifth tier of the German soccer pyramid.

Horgan convinced his new coach to let him rejoin the Vilseck program. And after Thursday’s performance at Woodlawn Golf Course, he seems like he’s better than before he left.

He totaled 45 points on the modified Stableford scoring format during the second playoff round, not only cementing his spot at the DODEA European championships in two weeks’ time but also putting himself among the favorites to claim the individual crown.

The best average scores over the two playoff rounds will qualify for the Euros. The cut will be determined in the coming days.

“It took three months to shake (the cobwebs) off,” Horgan said. “I think I’m getting back into it, and I think even after this, I’ll keep playing.”

Horgan’s total was the third highest during the round behind Ramstein’s Kaydyn Wright and Michael Schmiedel who recorded 48 and 44 points, respectively.

Vilseck senior Finn Horgan tees off on the No. 9 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein freshman Kaydyn Wright hits a ball on the No. 7 hole fairway at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Stuttgart's Liam Micho hits out of the woods on the No. 16 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein junior Michael Schmiedel chips onto the No. 7 green at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Mya Boynton hits over the bunker on the No. 8 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy's Titus Groce hits out of the woods on the No. 9 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

More importantly, the Falcon put together a huge bounce back from the first playoff round in Wiesbaden on Sept.17, where he posted his lowest score of the season at 34.

He recorded pars on holes 2, 3, 10 and 13 and birdies on 11 and 16.

“You want to be playing your best when you go to the tournament,” Falcons coach Rick Ritter said. “It’s good to have confidence.”

That confidence could be key for Horgan’s chances at Euros.

As a freshman, he entered the tournament as the top seed, and he lived up to it the first day with a 31 to be in first place. Yet a 24 in the second round saw him drop into third.

This year, he lacks the favorite tag, which weighed on him heavily last time.

“That was a lot of pressure,” Horgan said of his freshman season. “Now, being the No. 4 or something like that, there’s a lot less pressure, but if my scores keep improving, I think I have a good shot.”

The one area of improvement that both the player and coach mentioned was his driver.

They agree Horgan’s short game and his irons are his strength. His issues start whenever Horgan misses the fairway, and it spirals from there.

“When he’s struggled, it’s because he’s off a little bit, he’s got to recover, rescue himself,” Ritter said. “Fairways matter. driving matters, especially when you’re going against guys who can hit long.”

The guys he’s likely to compete against at Euros, Wright and Schmiedel, can drive with distance.

Wright has burst onto the scene as a freshman, taking the top seed with an average of 47.5 points. Schmiedel, meanwhile, is the defending European champion and is the second seed with a 44.5 average.

Horgan was a part of the Royals’ group in Wiesbaden, so he’s aware of their strengths. He could be in their group again on Oct. 7.

“They’re really good golfers, and it would be a challenge to keep up with them,” Horgan said.

Stuttgart's Thierry Nimbona follows his shot on the No. 6 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Bri Boswell hits over the water hazard on the No. 8 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Black Forest Academy's Jiwoo Lee hits off the No 1 tee at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Ramstein's Dylan Carroll hits off the edge of the bunker on the No. 18 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)

Wiesbaden's Evelyn Crosby watches her shot from the No. 1 fairway at Woodlawn Golf Course during the second DODEA-Europe playoff round on Sept. 24, 2026, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)