St. Regis golf team on par for spring season
<p>Senior Keenan Clute tracks his ball's progress as junior Ashley Chessman swings for a shot of her own during one of the first practice sessions of the St. Regis golf team. </p>
ST. REGIS – With a golf course right in their backyards, the St. Regis team had an opening advantage as they began their practice sessions for the spring season.
The team is expected to have seven members. There were four guys and two girls at their practice on Friday, March 21, though Head Coach Dan Park said one more guy would be joining later. He noted this was a smaller team than they have had in the past and some golfers had gone to the track and field team this year. While it was small, he was still happy with the team’s size.
“This is actually a good size to have because I can work with them a lot more individually than I could when we had 18 players,” Park said.
The team already has a good start as all but one person is returning from last year’s team. There is only one senior and the majority of the team is made up of sophomores.
Friday’s practice was one of their first days on the course. Because of lingering snow drifts, the team was unable to use the full course. Park said he showed the kids videos of golf for the first couple days to make up for the lost practical experience.
Even after being allowed onto the course, the team has been unable to make full shots for the green. Park said the ground is still too soggy in many places for them to shoot more than a few yards. Despite the handicaps, he felt the team already had good skills.
“Really, I think they’re looking pretty good,” Park said.
He said the team was very coachable, taking his advice and instructions well. The coach felt this was another advantage to a smaller team.
Park felt all five of the boys on the team were strong players who could do well and go all the way to state. For the girls, he said junior Ashley Cheesman was another strong player who he took to several tournaments last year and could go all the way as well.
Seeley-Swan is expected to be one of the top teams this year. Park said he knew the team made it to state a few times in the last couple years. He recalled their girls were good players too, but did not know how many graduated last year. The coach felt Superior would be another strong team to contend with. Park had no information about what the teams from the east end of the state would be like.
With a smaller group, the team is also able to pick up new tactics faster. Park felt the team would be ready for tournament play in time for the first meet.
“I’m hoping to get two qualified in [the Missoula] tournament,” Park said. “We won’t embarrass ourselves there.”
The team’s first competitions will be Thursday, April 3, and Friday, April 4, in Missoula. Because the meet will be held during spring break, Park was not sure who he would be taking to the tournament. While all of the boys said they would be in town, both girls planned to be out of the area.