It was a disappointing day at Wekiva. Our four scores totaled 342, and the biggest differences between the round we wanted and the round we played were putting and big numbers. We finished with 136 putts—16 above our team goal—missed 13 putts inside six feet, and recorded 12 doubles or worse. Those mistakes made it difficult to build any momentum.
“It certainly didn’t end the way I wanted it to, and I take full responsibility for the schedule,” Coach Howell said. “Looking back, I believe we packed too many 18-hole events into October without enough time between them to rest, practice and prepare. These are good golfers, but most aren’t accustomed to playing six or seven days a week. I believe that grind took a toll on us down the stretch. My job is to put them in the best position to succeed, and next year’s schedule will reflect what I learned.”
Xander Pendry led the group with an 80. Only three fairways hit and two penalty strokes made for a difficult day, but 29 putts, an eagle and a birdie helped him keep the round from getting away.
“Even Xander wore down late in the season,” Coach Howell continued. “He probably plays more golf than most of the team, but I believe the grind caught up with him, too.”
Holt Rue finished with an 83, hitting nine fairways and eight greens in regulation. Those numbers gave him opportunities for a lower score, but 37 putts and eight misses inside six feet proved costly.
“I couldn’t have putted worse if I had tried,” Rue remarked. “Nothing was going in!”
Grayson Oldson’s 89 included eight fairways, eight greens in regulation and nine pars, with only one penalty stroke. There was plenty of good golf in his round, but four doubles or worse proved costly.
“Grayson played the first six holes flawlessly,” Coach Howell said. “One bad swing led to two bad holes. Learning to keep one mistake from carrying over to the next hole is his biggest challenge. Once he learns that—and I believe he will—he can be a really good golfer.”
Hayden Fuller shot 90 on a day when both his approach play and putting were a struggle. Five greens in regulation left him needing to recover often, while 37 putts, three doubles or worse and two penalty strokes added to the total.
“It was tough to see Hayden finish with a 90 after improving so much this season,” Coach Howell continued. “I really thought he could be a key player for us at districts. This round doesn’t take away from the progress he made.”
What makes this disappointing is that I know this group is capable of better. We saw it at Rio Pinar, where four scores in the 70s produced a 305. We didn’t need extraordinary golf at Wekiva; we needed more of the steady golf we had already shown we could play. This round doesn’t erase the progress made this season, but it is a reminder of how quickly a few costly holes can change a team’s day. This group will be missed.
There is a silver lining. Xander Pendry has Qualified for the Regional Tournament to be played Monday @ Cypress head in Spruce Creek. Go Xander!
It Is Not Too Early to Think About Next Year’s Golf Team
The work that prepared this year’s team began back in December. After taking a month off following the season, our players started getting ready for the next one. It can be a demanding process, but becoming a competitive golfer requires year-round preparation.
Golf is not a sport you can wait to start practicing until tryouts arrive. You may be a good player, but tryouts last only three days. A long layoff can leave you rusty and seriously hurt your chances of making the team.
Improvement requires consistent practice, tournament experience and preparation throughout the year. I know the idea of playing in tournaments can be scary, but so can standing on the first tee at a match while everyone watches you tee off. Even the best players feel those nerves. The goal is to get used to that feeling and learn to play through it. The more often you put yourself in those situations, the more comfortable and confident you can become.
The good news is that you do not have to practice for hours every day—unless your goal is to become an elite player. Focused practice for about an hour, three days a week, along with playing nine holes every few weeks, can help you develop your game and make a big difference down the road. Make sure that practice includes chipping and putting, not just hitting balls on the range.
Golf is a funny game. You have to love it enough to stick with it through the ups and downs, put in the work during the long, hot days of summer, and be willing to practice when everyone else is playing video games.
If you’re willing to do that, consider becoming part of Oviedo Golf. The future of our program is kids just like you.
If you are serious about playing for the Oviedo Boys Golf Team, now is the time to start preparing. We will graduate four of our top six golfers after this season, creating several openings in next year’s lineup. Returning players and newcomers will have an opportunity to compete for those positions, and incoming freshmen will have a legitimate chance to move directly into the varsity lineup.
That type of opportunity has not existed in our program for the past five years. Take advantage of it by starting now.
Continue checking this website for range workouts, practice ideas and team updates.
Workout Links: October
