Prep boys golf: Underclassmen getting it done for San Marin
Apr 29, 2012 (Menafn - The Marin Independent Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --SAN MARIN HIGH teacher Bob Lacy is not someone who likes to take days off during the school year. But he is going to be happy to make an exception when the San Marin boys golf team makes its second appearance at the MCAL tournament in his nine-year tenure as the coach on Monday.
Although it took until the last match to decide if the Mustangs (9-9) would be eligible for the league tournament -- a victory over Terra Linda on Thursday gave them a .500 winning percentage in league matches -- the future looks bright for a team comprised of mostly underclassmen.
Sophomores Chris Schaub, Taylor Myers, Robbie Hogan and junior Brad Walchli
have been the keys for San Marin, which hasn't been to the league tournament in five years.
"They're a dedicated group. ... They know they are right on the verge with a chance to beat anybody in this league," Lacy said. "(Past San Marin) teams haven't been close. They're all young. This is going to be fun."
San Marin didn't have a No. 1 player that consistently was shooting one or two strokes over par in its arsenal, but relied on the entire team keeping scores under 45.
Schaub, Myers and Hogan all average 41 during the nine-hole league matches, while Walchli is just a stroke behind. Sophomore Christian Seyler, freshman Jackson Crowe and senior Phil Testa have also come up with key scores when the Mustangs needed
them.
"The key to the season is to stay under 45 with every guy," said Schaub, whose low round was a 37 at San Geronimo Golf Course in a win over Drake. "We ranged from 36-46. We would like to stay under 42, but 45 is the goal."
Hogan, who owns the Mustangs' low round of the season with a 36 and has carded the team's lowest score in nearly half of their matches, thinks the future is bright at San Marin.
"We're pretty excited about making the playoffs," Hogan said. "The whole team has helped us (get there). I think we'll get better each year and definitely make MCALs the next two years."
In anticipation of Monday, the team plans to give Peacock Gap -- the site for the MCAL tournament -- a practice round on Sunday. Playing together outside of league matches has become quite commonplace for the group.
"We're all really good friends. ... We go out and play together every weekend," Myers said. "We like what we're doing here. We have a good chance to do something. San Marin's always been a laughing stock for golf."
It appears the joke is no longer on the Mustangs.
"We get along really well," Walchli said. "We've known each other for a long time and played together outside of practices for the camaraderie.
"I think next year will be the biggest year for us."
While the Mustangs only have one victory against playoff teams --they beat Tam by two strokes in their second match of the season -- they have been able to stay close with teams that would've buried them in the past.
Case in point would be them losing to Marin Catholic and Branson -- perennial MCAL powers -- by 12 strokes combined.
"The top teams have played their best games against us," Lacy said. "Justin-Siena played two of its best matches against us. Teams are starting to respect us more."
A good showing on Monday could go a long way in the respect category.
Contact Derek Arild via e-mail at darild@marinij.com
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