The 2023 High School boys’ golf season is underway, and many local teams and individuals have already posted some top results. Here’s what local coaches said to expect from their teams this year.
What are some expectations you have for the season?
Apollo head coach Jared Carter: I want to see big improvement with our 3-5 golfers, and I know they can do it. Trevor Cecil and Ethan Clements are our top two, and they are very solid.
Daviess County head coach Lars King: To start the year, I really didn’t know what to expect. With only two returning players, we have had a great start to the year, though, and they have played some really solid golf. I hope they can continue to play well and give us a chance to contend in the postseason.
Owensboro head coach Pat Hume: Our team goals consist of winning the region or finishing in the top two and having at least two individuals qualify for the state tournament.
Owensboro Catholic head coach Andy Prusz: I want this team to have fun, improve their skills, be competitive, and play well in the “All-A.”
Trinity head coach Will Howard: I want our guys to have fun and learn the game. We’re very inexperienced, but we definitely have a team that wants to be out there.
What will be some challenges?
Apollo: We have two new players that came from baseball, and golf has a different swing method. With practice, they will help us lower our team score a lot.
Daviess County: We lost 3 seniors from last year, so hopefully, we can get some experience this year for the three new guys in those spots.
Owensboro: Consistency will be our main challenge. We have golfers with the ability to post good scores, but can we do it on a consistent basis and when it matters most?
Owensboro Catholic: Consistency. We have some really talented players – we just need to be more consistent.
Trinity: Experience. For many of our players, this is their first time ever playing. Our entire team is multi-sport athletes, which is the case for most athletes out here. They’re athletes and competitors, though, so I know they’ll continue to improve.
Who are some of your top returners?
Apollo: Seniors Trevor Cecil and Ethan Clements are solid players who help our team score tremendously. Trevor can place top 10 in almost any tournament individually, and Ethan just keeps improving his scores, where we hope he can stay in the 70s.
Daviess County: We have one of if not the best players in the region in Grant Broughton. He has already won a couple of times this year and continues to show his talent. We also have another returner Logan Mewes that is a solid player.
Owensboro: Eleventh graders Will Hume (averaging 76), Will Rickard (averaging 79), and Cole Crews (averaging 80) have been with our team the longest and have the ability to put together a strong round of golf. All three have multiple years of varsity golf experience and several top-10 finishes this year.
Brady Benjamin, Walker Gaddis, and Carter Vanover round out our line-up and are battling for the four and five spots. They are improving each week and will be counted to post a good score if our team is going to advance. They all have the ability and are gaining valuable match experience each week.
Owensboro Catholic: Some of our top returners are Houston Danzer, Luke Estes, Hayden Crabtree, and Tanner McFadden. We have 22 players on the roster this season, and several of them are young. I look forward to watching them grow mentally and physically.
Trinity: Isaac Reed was in our top three consistently last year. He is showing some true potential, and I know the best is yet to come.
What areas do you hope to improve this season?
Apollo: We’re wanting our bottom three to continue to improve and move us into the top 10 as a team.
Daviess County: We hope to grow as a team, with four juniors returning next season.
Owensboro: Consistency and the ability to play under pressure. Can our guys post a good score even when they are not hitting the ball great is something we talk about a lot. Just minimize your mistakes and keep the penalty strokes and three putts to a minimum. I like this group. They are multi-sport athletes who like to compete, and we hope that competitive spirit rolls over to the golf course as well. All are great students and leaders in our school, so that makes coaching them really fun.
Owensboro Catholic: Consistency within our scores.
Trinity: We have several first-year players just trying to learn the game. They’re constantly working on their own and answering the call when I challenge them.
