Golf is a mental game. Just ask the Lake Orion girls? varsity team.
The Lady Dragons ended their season Oct. 6, at the MHSAA Regional Tournament at The Twin Lakes Golf Club in Oakland Township. They finished sixth out of 15 teams, which pleased Head Coach Monty Gallaher.
He said the team tended to do better in tournaments this season rather than in league matches, particularly excelling in the end-of-the-season events.
‘I think they got it in their heads that it’s the end of the season one way or another,? Gallaher said. ‘So for them, all the pressure was off and they just played. When they do that, the girls have done really well.?
While the golf team failed to qualify for the state finals at Grand Valley State, senior Stacy Lecznar, the team’s No. 2 player, shot a career best 87 to qualify for the state’s individual competition.
Other players in the running at the regional tournament were No. 1 player senior Maddy McClean who shot a 93, freshman Samantha Fox with a 103, junior Paige Revnick with 109 and senior Rielly Dunn also with a 109.
Looking back on the season, Gallaher praised leadership qualities of co-captains McClean and Lecznar.
‘Their greatest achievement has been getting the team to bond,? the coach said. ‘It’s allowed them to feel more comfortable while learning and playing and that, in turn, helps us remain calm during tournaments like this one.
‘They were just having fun and played relaxed. Their performance shows that.?
As far as individual improvement, Gallaher said Fox enhanced her game the most this season. She began her career on the golf team not even knowing if she wanted to continue in the sport, he said, but she fell in love with the game, joined a club and has been playing since.
Gallaher said he is pleased with the 2011 golf team’s overall performance and is happy to see more interest in the sport at Lake Orion. This year’s team was young, boding well for its future, he said.
‘We had 17 players this year when a few years ago we only had eight,? Gallaher said. ‘There’s a lot of interest forming and the team is getting better.
‘So much of golf is a process before a result and now that we’re getting the process down, the results are appearing.?
The girls? varsity golf team finished its season with a 2-5 league record.