By David Paulsen
SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
With nearly three-fourths of the boys out for the program underclassmen, the Union Grove High School boys golf team will be hard pressed early on to improve on the team’s eighth-place finish one year ago in the Southern Lakes Conference.
Seventeen of the 24 boys out for the various squads are freshmen or sophomores, with 10 of those being freshmen.
“Because of our inexperience and what the other schools in the conference have coming back, it is going to be tough to climb the conference ladder,” head coach Eric Swanson said. “Our goal is to finish somewhere in the middle of the conference by the end of the season.”
The team will be anchored by junior Tom Kwon, with senior Steve Peterson the only other returning letter winner.
Other varsity prospects are sophomores Brendon Belongia, Alex VanDyke and Kyle VanVreede, as well as freshman Sam Maier.
“There are a few others who may get some varsity time, as well,” Swanson said. “We have a lot of young talent that is really into golf and have been working hard to improve.”
Swanson sees Waterford as the top team in the SLC.
“Being young, we realize that this year is a building block to hopefully being a contender in future seasons,” Swanson added.
The first week and a half of practices, which started March 25, were held indoors.
Swanson, in his 11th season as head coach, will be assisted by Greg Lewis. This is Lewis’ first year as an assistant.
The Bronco boys began their season Saturday, April 6, at the Elkhorn Invitational held at Evergreen Golf Club.
On Tuesday, the boys competed in the Wilmot Invitational at Twin Lakes Country Club.
On Thursday, Union Grove was at the Westosha Central Invitational held at Brighton Dale Links.
On Friday, April 12, the team will play in the Wolverine Invitational held at Rivermoor Golf Club in Waterford. This invitational was rescheduled from April 5.
Next week, the first of the SLC golf majors will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at Rivermoor.
-
-
-
-
-