Matt Frye/Sun NewsPark Hill’s Mason Hinkle takes a second swing on No. 2 at Liberty Hills Country Club during district play Wednesday, April 30. Hinkle advanced to state with an 82.
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Trojans get three to state
Team surprises at district tournament
By Bill Knust
As golfers gathered outside the clubhouse at Liberty Hills Country Club looking at final scores from the Class 4 District 8 golf tournament, a small buzz started to be heard. Golfers were wondering what the final score would be to make it to the Class 4 state tournament at Island Green Golf Course in Republic. When the final announcement was made it would be 82, Park Hill High golf coach Zach Dorrell could hardly believe it. Somehow, some way, three Trojans had shot 82 or better.
“I thought we had an outside shot of getting two kids there,” Dorrell said. “We were close as a team, too. This was the best we had shot as a team all year.”
The team score of 324 was indeed the best the Trojans had shot all year.
“If you were going to save your best, you wanted to save it for today, and that is what we did,” Dorrell said.
Ethan Calvert led the Trojans with a 78, one stroke away from medalist honors, and teammates Chris Robertson and Mason Hinkle shot 81 and 82, respectively.
“It was pretty windy today, so I was just trying to keep the ball low and hit knock downs every time,” Calvert said.
Calvert qualified for state last year, but was not able to play in the tournament after he injured his back during a practice round the day before the tournament.
“On the 12th hole of my practice round I made a swing and felt something pop in my back,” Calvert said. “I made a good swing, but I couldn’t go on from there.”
This year, Calvert is sure he will be able to play, and his mom even suggested working out in the week off before state.
With Hinkle’s score coming right on the cut line, it proved to Dorrell what kind of players make up his team.
“I had the opportunity to mark for one of my kids, and I don’t think one of them ever quit,” Dorrell said. “I am most proud of the fact that they didn’t quit when they could’ve.”
Oak Park comes up
just short
Oak Park coach Tom Stout could not remember the last time he failed to take at least one golfer to state, but sometimes things just do not work out.
The best Northmen score was an 85 as conditions wreaked havoc on the team. However, Stout said that should not be a good excuse.
“The course was in good shape,” Stout said. “There was a little bit of wind, but it is always windy out here. There is no excuse not to play good golf, because the conditions are pretty good.”
It is something Stout has seen time and again, where the pressure of districts gets to a team or a golfer and costs them a chance to the state tournament. He said he just tried to talk to his golfers before the tournament and remind them to take it shot by shot.
“It is amazing, because the kids could play a practice round here the day before the tournament and do well, but when the pressure is on things change,” Stout said. “It is just the nature of the game.”
Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or billknust@npgco.com.
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“I thought we had an outside shot of getting two kids there,” Dorrell said. “We were close as a team, too. This was the best we had shot as a team all year.”
The team score of 324 was indeed the best the Trojans had shot all year.
“If you were going to save your best, you wanted to save it for today, and that is what we did,” Dorrell said.
Ethan Calvert led the Trojans with a 78, one stroke away from medalist honors, and teammates Chris Robertson and Mason Hinkle shot 81 and 82, respectively.
“It was pretty windy today, so I was just trying to keep the ball low and hit knock downs every time,” Calvert said.
Calvert qualified for state last year, but was not able to play in the tournament after he injured his back during a practice round the day before the tournament.
“On the 12th hole of my practice round I made a swing and felt something pop in my back,” Calvert said. “I made a good swing, but I couldn’t go on from there.”
This year, Calvert is sure he will be able to play, and his mom even suggested working out in the week off before state.
With Hinkle’s score coming right on the cut line, it proved to Dorrell what kind of players make up his team.
“I had the opportunity to mark for one of my kids, and I don’t think one of them ever quit,” Dorrell said. “I am most proud of the fact that they didn’t quit when they could’ve.”
Oak Park comes up
just short
Oak Park coach Tom Stout could not remember the last time he failed to take at least one golfer to state, but sometimes things just do not work out.
The best Northmen score was an 85 as conditions wreaked havoc on the team. However, Stout said that should not be a good excuse.
“The course was in good shape,” Stout said. “There was a little bit of wind, but it is always windy out here. There is no excuse not to play good golf, because the conditions are pretty good.”
It is something Stout has seen time and again, where the pressure of districts gets to a team or a golfer and costs them a chance to the state tournament. He said he just tried to talk to his golfers before the tournament and remind them to take it shot by shot.
“It is amazing, because the kids could play a practice round here the day before the tournament and do well, but when the pressure is on things change,” Stout said. “It is just the nature of the game.”
Sports writer Bill Knust can be reached at 389-6605 or billknust@npgco.com.