Golf team on fringe of State

Hounds now close in on post-season, look to finish strong before beginning title run

By Ryan Duffy
<rduffy@hilite.org>

The men’s varsity golf team has just weeks left before it wraps up the regular season. Catch them in action next Wednesday when the team takes on Anderson at Anderson. The meet will begin at 4 p.m.

Head varsity golf coach Chad Carr said he is happy with the team’s growth during the season. “I am pleased with our effort thus far,” he said. “We have improved tremendously since the beginning of the season.”Junior and player Tyler Zipes said he is happy with the progress, as well. “As a team, we have come a long way,” Zipes said. “Our confidence in ourselves and in our teammates has sky-rocketed since the beginning of the season.”

Carr said he thinks the team needs to bring a few aspects of their game with them in to the post season. “I think they just need to keep the game simple and trust that the repetitions that they get in practice will transfer to the golf matches,” Carr said. “If they do that, they will have more confidence which will lead to better scores as an individual and as a team.”

Zipes said he thinks the team needs to be able to continue to focus on its short game in the postseason. “It all comes down to short game,” he said. “The best players around are the ones who can post good, low scores despite having days off with their ball striking; on or around the green is where the strokes are either lost or gained.”

Carr said though the team lacks experience, he is happy with its accomplishments this season. “I am thrilled with what we have accomplished so far,” he said. “Comparing our scores to last year, we are actually shooting better as a team if you look at averages. That is very positive and reinforces that we are heading in the right direction.”

Zipes said despite the lack of experience, he feels good about the team’s post-season chances this year. “I feel really good about our chances in the tournament this year,” he said. “Unlike most other teams around Indiana, we have a very deep lineup and when we aren’t playing our best, we know we can rely on one other to pull through for the team.”

Carr said he feels the same way about the team’s chances in the tournament, too. “I feel like we have just as good of a chance as any team,” Carr said. “It will all depend on our focus and confidence, which again, goes back to what we have done in practice and in matches.”

Zipes said he feels the Hounds have as good a chance as any to make it to the State tournament this year if they can continue to improve. “After a disappointing finish to last year’s season, the team is hungry to make it back to the State tournament,” he said. “We have the talent. It is just going to come down to whether or not we can continue to improve and continue to work collaboratively as a team.”

Carr said they have just as good a chance as anyone, also. “The team can go as far as they want. There are some strong teams out there and we will have to be on our ‘A’ game to win State.”