Despite some adverse weather conditions last week, Sweet Home’s boys started getting their golf game on track with some season-best scores.
On Tuesday, April 2, the Huskies finished third out of five full teams that played at Santiam Golf Club in Stayton, breaking 400 for the first time this year.
“That was our first major goal of the year,” Coach Pat Davis said, noting that the narrow, tree-lined course was “wet, though not super wet” during play. “The guys started pushing toward meeting expectations.”
Brayden Keesee led the Huskies with an 85, with Kolton Ertsgaard turning in a 93.
“To have two guys under 100 was exciting,” Davis said.
Chris May finished with 100 and Carson Smith a 115 to round out the Sweet Home team score of 393. Freshman Alex Kisselburgh was fifth with a 125.
On Friday, April 5, Sweet Home faced more daunting conditions, at least at the beginning of a five-team match at Middlefield in Cottage Grove.
“By the time the first group got on the first green it was raining and kind of sleeting sideways,” Davis said. “For the first 25 minutes it was unplayable in the rain. Then it cleared up.”
The Huskies responded by posting another season-best, a 352, which put them second behind Stayton (329).
While Middlefield isn’t one of the most difficult courses Sweet Home will play – Davis estimated that score would translate to about a 378 on a championship course, that score was still their best of the year.
Keesee finished with an 81, May with 88, Smith with a 90 and Ertsgaard with 93 to put all four scorers under 100. Also finishing the 18 holes were Kisselburg (104) and fellow freshman Carson Perry (106).
“It’s exciting,” Davis said. “After four matches now, on the guys side we’re starting to progress in the right direction.
“We’re beginning to see some more comradery and those kinds of things. The boys were happy. Good attitude leads to good play.”
The girls were off last week and they were scheduled to play Monday, April 8, at the Rogue Valley Country Club in Grants Pass, which will be the venue of the district tournament.