Oviedo defeats TC and DP @ Stoneybrook East
Xander Pendry’s even-par 36 and a strong finish from Hayden Fuller highlighted Oviedo’s preliminary results from Thursday’s boys’ golf match.
Pendry recorded two birdies and five pars, hitting six greens in regulation and finishing with just 12 putts. He did not miss a putt inside six feet and avoided any double bogeys.
"Is he totally back?" Coach Howell asked. "Maybe not, but he is pretty close. I think he is peaking at the right time."
Fuller showed resilience after opening with four consecutive bogeys, making par on four of his final five holes to finish with a 41. He hit six fairways and five greens in regulation, keeping double bogeys off his card throughout the round.
“If you look at the putting stats, it could have been a really solid round,” Coach Howell said. Fuller finished with 19 putts; reducing that total to 15 would have brought his score down to 37.
“He and I talked after a three-putt, and I gave him a tip on his short putts,” Howell continued. “I don’t know if it helped, but he parred the next four holes.”
Gaven Pope added a 42, recording a birdie and two pars while finishing with 15 putts. Two penalties proved costly, but Pope provided several solid stretches of play.
"It was Gaven's best nine holes of the season," Coach Howell went on. "I wish this would have happened back in August. If it had, who knows?"
Holt Rue finished with a 46 on a difficult afternoon. Rue struggled to find fairways and greens, and missed opportunities on the putting surface added to his score.
"Holt just isn't comfortable right now," Coach Howell rmarked. "I think this slump has him questioning everything he does. I just want him to go out and play. There's no questioning he has a lot of talent."
With conference and district competition approaching, the Lions will look to reduce penalties and sharpen their short putting. Fuller’s late turnaround offered an encouraging example of how an adjustment and a strong finish can keep a challenging start from defining an entire round.
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
