Numbers down, spirits high on golf squad
The numbers may be low this year, but Coach Scott O'Hare still has high hopes for his Hillsboro High School golf team.
"We've had a pretty successful program," said O'Hare, who is in his fourth year as the head coach of the team.
In 1999, Hillsboro took fourth place at the 3A state golf meet. Last year, one individual golfer, senior Philip Thiessen, went to the state meet.
But this year's team is almost half the size of last year's — 15 boys last spring, compared to eight this spring.
Why the change? The number interested in golf just cycles each year, O'Hare said. Also, two of the team's best golfers from last year decided to go out for track this year.
One of them is Adam Woods, who decided that track would help him stay in shape for his football career that starts this fall at Fort Hays State University.
This spring, O'Hare will return one letter winner, junior Ryan Fields, and two provisional letter winners, junior Billy Winegarner and Randy Klaassen.
Five team members are brand-new to Trojan golf — but they've all had experience in the junior golf program, O'Hare said. They are sophomores Michael Fisher and Tyler Krich and freshmen Lance Bartel, Jordan Allen, and Michael Roble.
Coach O'Hare says that each member of the team has the desire to strengthen and improve their individual talents.
"They all want to become better golfers," he said.
They'll face some tough competition in the strong MCAA. Golf teams from schools such as Nickerson, Hesston, and Haven should give Hillsboro a challenge this season.
"We've got solid golf teams in regionals," O'Hare said.
One of the toughest tests of the season will be the Nickerson tournament, which is held at the Highlands golf course in Hutchinson. That course is always difficult, O'Hare said.
