The Bucks Golf season is in full swing as the team looks to build on a wildly successful season of placing 9th in nationals, the best they’ve performed since 1999 when they finished first.
From the team of five that was sent to Nationals last year, two members are returning, Joey Myers and Matt Jost. They were both freshmen last year when they went to Nationals.
“We had great golfers show up for the team and perform when they needed to,” golf head coach Scott Bradshaw said on their success last season.
“Playing in nationals really affected me in a positive way. I know that it’s possible to compete this year with hard work, practice and focus,” Myers said on how playing on the national stage has changed his approach to golf.
On September 12, the team had their first match at Stonehedge golf course in Factoryville. The team shot a score of 343, just five strokes behind the first place team, Harrisburg. Myers shot second best on the team with a score of 83. Jost was unable to finish the match due to an injury.
Freshman Dean Evangalou placed first on team with a score of 82. “I had to stay focused and play each hole one at a time and stick to my game,” Evangalou said on the challenge of playing on an unfamiliar course.
Evangalou is confident in his ability to perform consistently for the Centurion Golf team. “I know I can post low scores, I just have to keep practicing and progressing as a player,” he said.
Because of how weather dependent of a sport that golf is, the season is split up between fall and spring. “The fall half of the season is generally used to give our guys experience and show them what college level meets are like,” Bradshaw said.
The spring part of the golf season has fewer regular season meets than the fall half because the Regional and National meets are held in the spring. The National match has been held every year at the Chauquanta Golf Course since 1999 when Bucks placed first in the nation.
Myers has his eyes set on a repeat of last season’s success. “My main goal for the season is to go back to the national championship as a team. If that doesn’t happen, my goal is to go as an individual,” he said.