Only 2% of golfers worldwide are able to shoot under 80 strokes in a round of golf. Of those 2%, GRC has 5 of them just on their varsity roster.
Those golfers, Andrew Perry, Knox Taylor, Jackson Kincaid, Trip Neely, and Mason Morton, put their skills to the test in amazing fashion at their home tournament this summer, posting a new record low, 10 under, in team history. Coach Stuart Taylor was both excited but not surprised about their outstanding performance.
“I always knew they had it in them,” said Coach Taylor. “Believe it or not, they all made mistakes that can be very easily avoided so 10 under is only a margin of the score that they could’ve gotten.”
Before this showing there were some doubts on how far the GRC golf team could make it in the state tournament coming up this fall.
“Honestly I never really knew if we could ever really compete with the top teams in the state,” said Knox Taylor. “I’m not saying that we are bad but the other teams like Madison Central, and Saint Xavier are really good.”
After getting a boost in both confidence and All-State points, the points required to make it into the state tournament, the boys on the team are starting to play with a new way of vigor.
“Every tournament we go to, we know that we can compete for that 1 spot in the tourney,” said Neely. “After the 10 under round, our next tournament scores were 1 over, 2 over, and 2 under which have placed us in the top 3 every time.”
Right after the 10 under round, Andrew Perry and Mason Morton started to top the scoreboard at every tournament they went to.
“I have been playing decently well all year long but right after that tournament I have found another gear and I am putting it to good use,” said Perry. “Me and Andrew are playing some great golf but these tournaments are won as a team so it takes the full team to play good for us to win and we are doing that flawlessly,” said Morton.
All in all, golf is one of the most frustrating and time consuming sports. It takes a long time to get good at and even longer to be able to play under pressure, but Coach Taylor emphasizes one thing above all.
“Focus on the process, not the results,” said Coach Taylor. “The process will give you the results you want, we are looking for that build up to September then to hit our best stride once that state tournament rounds the corner. A 10 under round is great, but I am looking for that 15 to 20 under round that I know these boys are capable of shooting.”
