With a record of 5-0, Oxford’s Varsity boys? golf squad is dominating the links and that has Coach Terry Kelley excited.
‘I am more optimistic than I have been in the last two years,? he said. ‘We have much greater potential. We have potential from our best senior to our greenest freshman. I’m real excited about that.?
Varsity golfers racked up their fifth consecutive win on Monday beating Clio 171-184. Freshman Brandon Shin was the leading scorer with 40, followed by junior Liam Gallivan (42), senior Tony Frias (43) and senior Ryan Collier (46).
On Saturday, the boys took fifth place with a combined score of 338 in a 19-team tournament at the Lapeer Country Club.
Kelley noted the boys were only two strokes shy of finishing third.
Shin scored a 76, the third best in the tournament. He was followed by Frias (86), senior Travis Collier (87) and senior Byron Nolde (89).
Overall, Kelley’s pleased with his team’s performance.
‘We have a good blend of youth and experience,? he said. ‘We have young people who are pushing some of our veteran players to get better.?
Shin is one of those Young Turks.
‘He has been our leading scorer so far, which is exciting,? said Kelley, noting Shin’s had some professional training and played a little bit of tournament golf. ‘When you get on the golf course, he’s totally, totally focused on playing. It’s pretty neat to watch.?
Shin’s playing alongside some experienced seniors, who have the skills to win. The senior class includes:
n Co-captain Tony Frias ? ‘The most dependable player on the team,? said Kelley, noting he’s been with the squad for four years. ‘His scores have come down significantly each year. He shows great leadership.?
n Co-captain Byron Nolde ? First year on the varsity team. ‘He’s figured very prominently in our plans,? Kelley said. ‘He’s very athletic, very motivated. He pays a lot of attention to detail.?
n Russ LaLone ? New to the team. Kelley called him a ‘technician,? meaning ‘he wants to hit perfect shots every time.? Coach said he’ll be fine once he learns ‘it’s not a game of perfect.?
n Kyle Conn ? On the varsity squad for three years. ‘He’s made fairly steady progress,? Kelley said.
n Travis Collier ? Fourth year on the varsity squad. Very strong, very athletic. ‘He’s a hockey player,? Kelley said. ‘When he learns how to slow things down a bit, he’s going to be fine.?
n Ryan Collier ? ‘He’s somebody that we depend on heavily,? said Kelley, of this fourth year starter. ‘He will be one of our two or three leading scorers.?
Filling in the eighth spot on this year’s varsity team is junior Liam Gallivan. This is his second year on the squad and Kelley expects him to be one of the top three scorers.
Normally, Kelley said he likes to have a nine-man varsity team.
But this year he’s keeping that spot open so he can rotate between four talented freshmen ? Cody Collier, Tim Dutzy; Matt Frisch and Josh Hosking.
He’s also planning to give some promising sophomores some varsity playing time in that open slot.
‘We’re good from top to bottom,? Kelley said. ‘I expect us to finish in the top three or four in our league.?