“Be humble; don’t get too big for your head. Always know that everybody has a chance. Golf is humbling and can turn very quick.” This level-headed quote by La Plata High School junior golfer Tyler Koch shows the foundation of his golf team’s success.
Oct. 1 marked the sixth time La Plata’s golf team won SMAC in their regular season. In both last year’s and this year’s regular season, they finished undefeated with a record of 13-0. La Plata battled against St. Charles and then Westlake, taking first place in both contests. They scored their lowest of the season in these two matches, dominating the golf range with a staggering score of 146.
There is a significant difference between playing in the regular season and competing in the playoffs. “The stakes are much higher and you’re actually playing for something,” senior golfer Chase Childers said.
On Oct. 7, La Plata received their first loss in the county tournament against North Point. The score read 330-305, but the score doesn’t tell the story of how close the game really was. La Plata was not comfortable with the course in White Plains; it was very narrow and the fairways were a lot faster compared to Swan Point’s. However, the team managed to keep their head up and their energy high as they pulled out their next match against Thomas Stone. They finished the match, scoring 330-371 in the this year’s county tournament.
At the state tournament, two La Plata golfers, Childers and Koch, finished the two-day competition placing in the top 15 in Maryland, with Childers topping SMAC with a 154 and Koch one shot behind him at 155. When asked what his mindset was going into the final tournament, Childers answered, “Mentally stay strong the whole round. Keep plugging along even if you have a bad hole. Keep your head up. There will be a better hole.”
No Comments