Following a year of team building the Sweet Home Golf teams have improved their numbers. Subsequently, last year, the teams only consisted of a total of two girls and five boys. The teams have grown to a heightened number of 15 boys and five girls for this season.
The boys team includes six seniors, three juniors and six freshmen, showing promise for positive outcomes in later seasons.
The girls team, although not as large as the boys, has still grown to two seniors, two sophomores and one freshman.
Last season, the boys team finished fourth in the 4A Special District 2. Head coach Ron Moore said, “[It] was respectable, but I think we could’ve finished better. There’s a lot of room for improvement, but all in all, they improved last year and got themselves better as a team.”
“Last year girls, we only had two girls playing. They both played in districts and played well for themselves, both having personal bests,” Moore said. “But not having a team, we couldn’t qualify for districts, and neither one of them qualified as individuals.”
Returning players are always good for a rebuilding team. Moore believes returning senior Evan Ashcraft has a good chance at both going to state as an individual and potentially helping the team to qualify for state. Returning senior Chet Garret was also highlighted, with Moore stating, “I think both of them have the potential of playing well and helping the team. Hopefully their leadership can get these younger kids up to where we need them to be.”
Moore is hoping that his boys team will be able to make it to state, which means they’d have to finish in the top three in the Special District 2 District Tournament that will be held May 6 to 7 at the Emerald Valley Golf Course.
March 14, the teams were seen at the Marshfield invitational event held at Bandon Trails Golf Course. Moore commented saying, “Beautiful weather. We had a good weekend of team building and we played a lot of golf.” Although they didn’t fare well during the tournament, Moore said, “It was a great tournament. We brought two girls down with us, Abby Hogan and Hanna James with us as well, and they’re both really improving.”
The SHHS golf teams will be at the Mallard Creek golf course April 15 with the time to be determined.