It's not exactly a slump, but the Auburn varsity golf team hasn't been to the state match since David May graduated.
Sure, it was only two years ago, but Maroons coach Tony Locastro is anxious to get back there, and he knows he's got a good shot at doing it this time.
Four Auburn golfers - Ryan May, Brian Walker, Bobby Dushatinski and Sean Hogan - will take to the links Thursday for the Section III Championships, a two-day event at Colgate's Seven Oaks Golf Course. After Thursday's 18 holes, play will continue Saturday with the top 24 players competing through another round. The best nine golfers after a two-day combined score will represent Section III in the State Championships, which will take place at Cornell University.
The tricky part is getting the Maroons (15-3) back into the swing of things. All four golfers qualified for the event at the end of the season - in October.
“It's kind of hard sometimes to get these kids together in the spring time,” Locastro said of the quartet's busy off-season schedules. “They work on their own, and we've been out a couple times up at Highland.”
It's especially difficult when two of the golfers play another spring sport. Hogan plays for the lacrosse team, and Dushatinski is a member of the JV baseball team. Still, the Maroons will convene one last time today at the driving range to iron out any wrinkles in their mechanics and also discuss ways to attack the Colgate Course.
“Seven oaks is the kind of golf course that can eat you up alive,” Locastro said. “I've seen it happen to a lot of kids there.
“If you don't have your A-game, you probably won't be coming back on Saturday. It's as simple as that.”
Two of the Maroons have been there before, as May and Hogan competed last season. Walker, who missed qualifying by one shot a season ago, and Dushatinski will make their first appearances.
They'll all have their work cut out for them.
Seven Oaks has several par 4s that measure longer than 425 yards, and nearly every green is guarded by a bunker. Not to mention that pesky rough.
“The last couple years, the rough has been on the high side,” Locastro said. “If you hit it in the rough, you might as well count on losing a stroke to par very easily.
“There's a lot of holes that you strictly got to put the ball in the right position and attack the green. If you're out of position then it causes some hardships like bogeys and double bogeys.”
The most likely candidates to break the barrier into the state tournament are Walker, who will play golf for LeMoyne next year, and May, David's brother. Walker shot a 77 at The Links at Erie Village in East Syracuse in October to qualify, and May shot an 81.
“Hopefully this will be his breakout year,” Locastro said of May. “I've played with him a couple times in the spring. He's into it. There were a few mistakes here and there, but for the most part he can play with the best of them. Believe me when I tell you that.”
Soon enough, he'll have the chance to prove it, along with the rest of the Maroons.
Four Auburn golfers - Ryan May, Brian Walker, Bobby Dushatinski and Sean Hogan - will take to the links Thursday for the Section III Championships, a two-day event at Colgate's Seven Oaks Golf Course. After Thursday's 18 holes, play will continue Saturday with the top 24 players competing through another round. The best nine golfers after a two-day combined score will represent Section III in the State Championships, which will take place at Cornell University.
The tricky part is getting the Maroons (15-3) back into the swing of things. All four golfers qualified for the event at the end of the season - in October.
“It's kind of hard sometimes to get these kids together in the spring time,” Locastro said of the quartet's busy off-season schedules. “They work on their own, and we've been out a couple times up at Highland.”
It's especially difficult when two of the golfers play another spring sport. Hogan plays for the lacrosse team, and Dushatinski is a member of the JV baseball team. Still, the Maroons will convene one last time today at the driving range to iron out any wrinkles in their mechanics and also discuss ways to attack the Colgate Course.
“Seven oaks is the kind of golf course that can eat you up alive,” Locastro said. “I've seen it happen to a lot of kids there.
“If you don't have your A-game, you probably won't be coming back on Saturday. It's as simple as that.”
Two of the Maroons have been there before, as May and Hogan competed last season. Walker, who missed qualifying by one shot a season ago, and Dushatinski will make their first appearances.
They'll all have their work cut out for them.
Seven Oaks has several par 4s that measure longer than 425 yards, and nearly every green is guarded by a bunker. Not to mention that pesky rough.
“The last couple years, the rough has been on the high side,” Locastro said. “If you hit it in the rough, you might as well count on losing a stroke to par very easily.
“There's a lot of holes that you strictly got to put the ball in the right position and attack the green. If you're out of position then it causes some hardships like bogeys and double bogeys.”
The most likely candidates to break the barrier into the state tournament are Walker, who will play golf for LeMoyne next year, and May, David's brother. Walker shot a 77 at The Links at Erie Village in East Syracuse in October to qualify, and May shot an 81.
“Hopefully this will be his breakout year,” Locastro said of May. “I've played with him a couple times in the spring. He's into it. There were a few mistakes here and there, but for the most part he can play with the best of them. Believe me when I tell you that.”
Soon enough, he'll have the chance to prove it, along with the rest of the Maroons.
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