After many months of preparation, the boys and girls golf teams are finally on the verge of the state tournament. This end of the year path was one of mental endurance and internal drive.
The golf players have spent their May preparing to compete against other high level competitors in the state. Girls golf head coach Jason Flowers and boys golf head coach Josh Reeves have been putting this competitive mindset in effect.
Following a dominant performance at the region and area tournaments, the girls team was challenged with a unique obstacle of having a two-week gap without any official match competition.
“Thankfully, pretty much all of our girls really work a lot on their own independently,” Flowers said.
Recognized player Alex Gammill explained how they keep up momentum by playing short-game betting matches regardless of having an official match or not.
“Those are the strokes that set you aside from the others in your field, so you’re trying to just to get ahead, ” Gammill said.
Contrary to fall sports landscapes that are seemingly predictable, golf shows polar opposite landscapes for the post season. The boys team spent a week mapping out the specific layout for the upcoming match.
“Unlike a basketball court that’s pretty much the same size every time, the courses are different,” Reeves said.
The team’s gameplan was to decide what to practice tailored to the layout of the course.
Reeves emphasized that golf is a more of an emotional-stability sport. Relying on technique is only half the battle, with the sport being very individual centered. Beyond the techniques learned, players must illustrate emotional maturity.
The state tournament presents a format change, moving a normal 18-hole area match to a massive 36-hole endurance match over two full days. Players will have to carry around their own equipment without the crutch of a golf cart.
After shooting a low score of 80 at area, Gammill mentioned that her plan is to keep a steady mindset to face what is to come.
“I’ve prepared, and the only thing I can do is play my game, I’m just going to do what I need to do,” Gammill said.
Ultimately both coaches have shown respect for the players’ labor and emotional grit throughout this season. They encourage their players to stay focused all the way to the last week of school and into the final match.
Both teams play at the Crosswinds Golf Club in Savannah on May 18-19.