Maddie Kelley
Features Editor
- Junior Jake Skinner takes a practice swing. Photo by Chloe Robinson.
The boys golf team took second at State on Tuesday, May 15 at Bolivar, Missouri. JP Derksen, Blake Windsor, Blair Sanders, Zach Kurth and Joseph Hanes all competed at Silo Ridge Country Club. Coach McGown is very happy with the season and the hard work of the boys.
“State was magnificent, Coach Linke and I spent four days with the guys. We had funny moments, interesting moments, and a lot of great golf. I told the boys on the very first meeting I had made hotel reservations and had no intention of canceling them,” McGown said. ” We are absolutely going to state next year and first place is our goal.”
The boys have been playing since February and are happy to have made it as far as they did. Senior Joseph Hanes thinks the chemistry the team shared played a big factor in their success.
“I would say we got along pretty good and sometimes we give each other crap and the coaches think we’re fighting but we don’t take each other serious, we’re all really close,” Hanes said.
The boys finished second behind Rockhurst. South finished 24 strokes behind the Hawklets. Derksen finished tied for third, earning All-State Honors. Sanders, a junior, finished 19th, just missing All-State honors.
Windsor said playing conditions were great.
“It was 75 degrees both days and sunny, perfect weather. It was much better than my last two State experiences,” Windsor said.
Although the team is happy with second, the returning players are already looking towards next season. Derksen is excited for what’s to come.
“We know we are going to have a real good team with state championship potential so I’m definitely excited to see what myself and our team can do,” Derksen said.” I definitely left some shots out there and wanted to go a little lower than what I did but I definitely walked away with my head held high.”