Spring Sports Preview: MSJ Golf

This season for the St. Joe Varsity Golf Team is almost a fresh start for the program. With only three returning players, many slots were open for new and experienced people. Seven more players, three of whom are new to the program, and a new assistant coach (our own Mr. Schultheis), were added to the squad roster.

Junior Pat Broussard leads the St. Joe Varsity Golf Team in the MIAA.

“The key returning players this year are junior Patrick Broussard, seniors Peter Schultz and Matt Hess. The newest member of the squad that has been consistently posting low scores is Senior Max Rogers,” says head coach, Mr. Mike Dooley.

Coach Dooley also says, “I am very happy to have Coach Ed Schultheis join the program this year. He has blended into all the coaching aspects and has been a real benefit to me. We get along very well. He has a great feel for interacting with our players and coaches.”

There is a definite buzz going around due to the fact that there is a freshman on varsity this year. Since there are no sophomores on the varsity team, there is a big age gap between all the other players and him. But, he has turned out to be a solid performer on the course so far for the team. I also asked Coach Dooley about his thoughts with having a freshman on the varsity team.

“I am fine with a freshman, Ronak Patel, being on the varsity team. I have had freshmen in other seasons. He has earned his spot on the roster just like the other nine members of our team.”

Freshmen Ronak Patel hopes to make a sizable contribution to the Varsity Golf squad for the 2016 season.

Now, what everyone wants to know is whether or not the team can make a title run. In my own opinion, I think that the team can win a title in the window of the next three years. The reason I say this is because, the team has a solid set of juniors that have played competitively for the past 1 to 2 years on the JV level. Those players consist of Matt Lamm, Sam Robertson, Jay Davis, and Nick Crabbs. The team also have two solid sophomores, Matt Cunningham and Ryan Hockstra, who hope to lead JV to a good season record. Finally, two freshmen, Ben Lindner, who will playing on the JV level this season, and Ronak Patel, both of whom hope to win a title in their time here. Coach Dooley also said that he is looking forward to having about seven incoming freshman who are committed to the program next year.

“It will be very challenging for us to make a run for the title. The ‘A’ Conference in the MIAA is the best golf conference in the state. There are several teams returning many quality players,” Coach Dooley says. “I am confident that our team will try its best in each and every match. We will have to play our absolute best to compete with the best teams in the conference.”

As we enter the new spring sports season at MSJ, the golf team is ready for the season and is hungry for a championship! The first match of the season is April 4, against McDonogh, at Rolling Road.

Follow the Golf Team all season on Twitter at @GaelsGolf.