Varsity Golf Playoff Preview

Sophomore Lane Davis is looking to make a run at state this year. Along with Seniors Chad Briden and Logan Montgomery, Junior Tom Isaacs, and fellow Sophomore Ben Parres, the Westminster Golf Team competed at the Class 3 District Tournament on Monday.

 

All five golfers qualified to move on to Sectional, easily making the cut of 109.

 

“The conditions at Districts were terrible, but we all made it through the first round pretty easily,” said Davis.

Sectionals will be a whole different challenge. The golfers estimate that the cut will be somewhere around 80 to 85. Davis is confident he can make this cut, but new Sophomore Ben Parres knows he is facing a challenge.

“The older and more experienced guys help me deal with the pressure and the seniors act as mentors to us younger guys, so that helps. I think if the bounces are going my way I can make it to State,” said Parres.

 

If he makes it, this will be Davis’ second trip to the state tournament in two tries.

 

“Play with Lane is great, he helps take the pressure off on some of the matches, and it’s always fun playing with one of your good friends,” said Parres.

 

Last year, as a Freshman, he qualified for state and placed in the Top 50 out of 100 golfers, shooting an 80 and an 82 over the two-day tournament. This year, he will look to raise the bar.

“My goal for the rest of the season is to qualify for the state tournament and place in the Top 25,” said Davis, “The course sets up very well for my game as it is a big long course.”

 

Aside from each golfer’s goal of making state individually, the team goal is to make it to state as a whole team. “I think we can make it to state as a team this year, but there are some very good teams in our district that will make it a challenge for us.”

 

Logan Montgomery and Chad Briden will both also be looking to return to state for their final season at Westminster. Part of what has made the golf team enjoyable for them is the laid-back atmosphere.

 

“Our team is very laid back and is almost a comedy show sometimes,” said Davis.

 

However, this lack of intensity does not affect the team’s results when it comes time to lock down and focus. The Wildcats have been competitive in their matches with some of the best teams in the area, such as MICDS, Priory, and Borgia.

 

The next step after Districts is Sectionals, which will be played at Franklin County Country Club, and after that will be the State Tournament which takes place at Old Kinderhook in the Lake of the Ozarks.

 

Being on a Varsity team as a Freshman is quite a feat. If Davis can make it to State all four years of his Westminster career, he will join a class of his own. Lane hopes that he will be absent from school for the next two Mondays, because if he does, that will mean he made it to State.