Golf team heading to Cody

As the Bobcat golf team heads into the mid-point of the season, head coach Jacob Smith gives us a recap of how the team has been doing so far.

The Cats started the spring season in Worland on April 15 and Smith said, after a rough two starting holes, senior Hudson Roling pulled his game together and shot an impressive 79.

“The rest of the high school golfers also performed very well,” Smith said, “shooting in their low average range, an impressive feat for the first spring tournament.”

Scores were Roling, 79; Cade McLean, 91; Jeffry Clark, 98; Kyle Roessing, 136 and Maddie Stam, 124.

The next week, April 20, the team went over the mountain to Buffalo.

“We had some good range time during the intervening week,” Smith said, “and got to really start making progress on individual swing goals.”

On a rough Buffalo course, the Cats came out swinging with everyone improving on their scores from the Buffalo tourney last fall.

This was also the first tournament that one of the new middle school golfers was able to attend.

“It is awesome to have them out,” Smith said, “learning the pace and procedure of high school tournaments so that they are ready to compete their freshman fall.”

Scores from Buffalo include Roling, 78; McLean, 97; Clark, 105; Roessing, 117 (personal record) and Stam, 133. Hardy Johnson, the middle school golfer, had a 73 which tied him for the low score of the day.

Last Friday saw the team in Powell and Smith said they finally had a beautiful day for golf – sunny and 75 all day with a light breeze.

“We couldn’t have asked for better conditions,” he said. “While I gave advice and made sure everyone was applying and reapplying sunscreen, the Cats took to the course with gusto.”

Roling repeated his 75 from state two years ago, bringing the low score for the day.

McLean posted a great 86, just a couple of strokes out of the top 10.

Clark posted another sub-100 round with a 97 after telling Smith what an awful round he played, driving home that improving golf scores is all about working to make your bad days end up not so bad.

Stam and Roessing continue to progress, shooting 129 and 133 respectively.

Middle schooler Will Clark got his first taste of what high school golf will be like, shooting a respectable 133 in his first tournament.

“This is such a great group of kids and such amazing work this spring,” Smith said. “Everyone is busting their humps to grow as competitors. I’m so lucky to work with such great young people.”

The Cats will be in Cody on Friday at 4 p.m. for their Spring Invitational.