Saints Peter & Paul 19, Boys' Latin 2

Sometimes, gaining the benefits of experience comes at a price. Such was the case for the Lakers yesterday as they battled Sts Peter & Paul over the rolling linksland of Hunter's Oak Golf Course in Queenstown, Maryland. Blind tee shots, multi-tiered greens, countless moguls and a complete absence of trees makes Hunter's Oak a venerable challenge for any golfer who is used to playing more traditional layouts. The Lakers fared well against the course, however - checking their drive-for-show mentalities at the door in favor of strategic placement and precision-based course management.

Sts Peter & Paul had always proven a good match for the Lakers. Two years ago, Boys' Latin had risen victorious against them in a knock-down-drag-out duel in the rain and wind that found The Lakers carving out a hard-fought win. Last season, Sts. Peter & Paul arrived at The Suburban Club with a score to settle, and did so in appropriate fashion - shutting the Lakers down in their first home match. This year, the stage was set for another good face-off.

Sts Peter and Paul, boasting a talent pool that found their 5th man owning a 4 handicap, certainly appeared to be formidible opposition for the Lakers at the outset. But, as had been the case previously for Boys' Latin, the team elevated itself to meet the competition.

Stuart Naeny and Patrick Hohman, playing in the 1 & 2 slots respectively, scrapped it out with their opponents for the full match. In not one instance did they fail to do their absolutel best against their competition. In the end, Naeny secured 1/2 a point for the team - and Hohman was able to split his decision against his opponent while collecting 1 1/2 points.

Notable achievement of the match goes to Gates Blair for his career-low front nine toal of 40. Gates, a first-year member of the squad, has already dropped his average 18 hole score this season by 15 shots. With this type of improvement associated with only three months of learning and development, the sky appears to be the limit for this Laker Freshman.

At the end of the day, the score reflected a tough loss - but hidden beneath the 19-2 banner were the on-course lessons learned from an afternoon of solid head-to-head competition. With the attitude and focus that the Laker team has, experiences such as this can only build competitive character - and lead the team to a better tomorrow.

St. Mary's 17 Boys' Latin 4

Although the score might not reflect it, the Lakers had a relatively impressive showing yesterday.

Recognizing that four of the Lakers' starting six had a combined 1 competitive match under their belt going into yesterday, the boys' ability to perform under pressure was admirable and encouraging.

Patrick Hohman, competiting with an injured shoulder, had never played higher than #5 last season, and now found himself in the #2 slot. Though he dropped the front 6 to his opponent, Patrick battled back to win the back 6 and the over-all match. Patrick's 2 points lead the team in scoring for the day.

Stuart Naeny in his first match as team captain, succumed to heavy pressure on the second-to-last hole when, following a 310 yard drive, he mis-hit a wedge into a greenside bunker and took four shots to escape it, enroute to scoring a triple bogey seven. It was understandable that Stuart might struggle with the weight of this particular situation, as it was his first such instance in such a position. The coaches believe that it will serve him well and thicken his competitive skin for the matches ahead.

Props go out to Stuart Mitchell, competiting in the #3 slot, for his showing against the opposition. St. Mary's moved their #1 player two slots down to face Stuart - and he, more than any other Laker, had his work cut out for him. Stuart persevered, however; and took his match to the final hole before losing one-down. Stuart's competive fire was evident throughout the match, and the coaches regonized him for his never-say-die attitude.

Notable achievement of the night went to Gates Blair. Gates, playing in the #5 slot, was the only Laker to secure a win on the front 6. This was Gates' first ever competitive match - and he deserves credit for playing tough and grinding down the opposition when he was, no doubt, very nervous and tense.

The boys made a number of relatively mindless errors during the match. Failing to line-up putts, mis-calculations in course management, scoring errors, rules infractions, and a few other items cost the team an estimated five points. With that said, one thing certainly did not occur - they didn't give up. This is the difference between the 2006 Laker Golf Squad and teams past. The individuals in this line-up have fires in their bellies that dwarf that of their competitors. This dogged-mentality and gravel-in-the-gut determination will serve the boys well throughout the season.

With the St. Mary's match behind them and the lessons of a tough loss learned, the Laker Golf Team seems poised to take on Sts. Peter and Paul this Thursday at Hunter's Oak.

From Student to Coach ~ Taylor Black Contemplates His New Role as Assistant Coach of The Laker Golf Team

As a sophmore in high school I had to make the decision to play lacrosse or golf. I was reasonably talented at lacrosse; but I was too small to excel. I never played golf competetivly, but told myself that I would give it my best shot. I spent my first season of golf on the junior varsity team, which was coached by Mr. Gelston and Mrs. Kirk.

I spent the season playing the 5th seed and winning or tying my opponent in every match. In my first season I was named the Junior Varsity Most Valuable Player. It was a big surprise to me. I was then sent to the Junior Varsity Individuals, the first time I would play competetivly for 18 holes. I was in the second group as well, which was comprised of the best players from Gilman, Mt. St. Joseph and Sts. Peter and Paul. As we ended our rounds and our scores were posted I actually felt embarassed - having shot 101 (the winner shot 76).

That year our Varsity team won the B Conference Championship for the first time since 1995. The team was talented and young - there appeared no reason for us not to win again the following year.

My junior year, I made the varsity team and played under Coach Crider. It was a fun year. Everyone got along, and are performance was respectable, though not as good as the previous year. I never played in a match that season. I shared the 7th and 8th seed with one of my teammates, Jessie Filamore. The season ended in a playoff birth, in which we failed to advance past the first round.

My senior year, I came down with a case of "Senioritis." I remember thinking to myself, "Hey I was accepted to the school of my choice. I don't need to do anything anymore." In retrospect, that attitude was a bit immature. Golf came around and we had a new coach - Coach Champion. The team was a bit skeptical because most of us had played 4 years under Coach Crider. It was a big change. Coach Champion actually "coached" us, unlike Coach Crider who effectively merely babysat us. Although our games improved dramatically throughout the season, we compiled a miserable record - finishing the season 3 & 8.

I spent my entire final season trying to get a spot in the top 6. It took me until our last match to get a chance to play. I struggled for the first 6 holes, losing to my opponent. But as the back 6 began, I took the lead early and was able to hang on. Coming into the last hole I needed par to win and end the match in a tie. Just as we were about to putt out, my opponent gave me the shot because he had already made double bogey and recognized that I was putting for birdie. It was a great feeling to win that match.

It was an amazing experience to play for the Boys' Latin Lakers Golf Team - and since I've returned to help coach, it's been even more rewarding.

Now that I come back and see how the team is doing, I must confess to being somewhat jealous. I see the team using high-tech equipment, receiving donated products, and practicing a month before golf even starts. Being given the amazing chance to play under two PGA professionals, I wonder how my senior year would have ended had the team members been given the chance to see their swings, and practice as a team six weeks before the season started. Wow.

The program has come a long way. People donating equipment, a website, a hitting net. All these things are great assets to have - benefits that I never had the chance to utilize. I am happy to be back as a coach. Though I may not be able to help out with your swings and stances as well as Coach Champion and Coach Vaughn, I am able to relate to your life position and the situations and challenges inherent to where you are in your development. Please know that if you ever need help with anything, you can always lean on me. If you have a question that you don't think other people might understand, I would encourage you to talk with me. I am here for you; and I look forward to the rest of the season.

-Coach Black

Pre-Shot Routine As A Reaction Trigger: How To Develop Instinct In A Static-Ball Sport By:Mason Champion, PGA

Golf is unique as a "static-ball sport." There is no reactionary component inherent to the game - no instinct that dictates your movement. The ball is not being thrown to you; you are not throwing it to anyone else; nobody is running at or around you. In effect, nothing happens until you swing the club.

There are a few instances in other sports where situations like this occur. In baseball, a pitcher on the mound has complete control of the game - nothing happens until he decides to throw the ball. A tennis player serving is also similar in this regard - as is a basketball player at the foul line. If you examine athletes who excel in these areas - successful free throw shooters, successful pitchers, and successful servers - you will notice a common incorporation of a pre-shot routine. It is this routine that acts as a trigger for reaction.

Effectively, the golfer begins to react instinctively to the pre-shot routine that he has established. Without the routine, the golfer is merely swinging blindly and fails to establish true consistency. Therefore, it is important that you develop a pre-shot routine as you progress in your game development. Every shot in practice and in competition should follow this routine - and it should become deeply engrained in your game.