One Stroke to Win
CHS Golf Players Advance to Regionals
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Launch the media gallery 1 player - media #6Stakes were high as sophomore Riley S took his first swing. He had tied for 5th place with a score of 87 and would have to compete in a playoff at the district golf meet in Childress for the chance to go to regionals. The crowd was watching to see who would win the hole, including veteran player Zach Watson, who was already advancing. Battling nerves, Riley overshot the green, but his opponent undershot and had to make up the lost ground.
“Going into the first playoff hole, I was more nervous than I’ve ever been playing golf,” Riley stated. “Usually when I’m nervous I don’t play well, but this time the nerves kept me from making mistakes. I thought about my drive carefully.”
The next drive brought Riley into good putting position as his opponent was still too far from the hole. Riley was set up for par and his opponent was going for a bogey. If Riley made the putt, he would win. He lined up his ball, made the shot, and wound up just short of the hole. Both players bogeyed the hole and would have to play another one.
On the second hole, both players made it to the green. As they finished the hole, Riley was one stroke behind, but the Quanah player had moved his ball out of a hazard on an earlier drive. He and Riley were either tied or the Quanah boy had won, depending on how many stokes the Quanah player had to add to his score for the hazard.
Coaches headed to the clubhouse for the official ruling. The official came to the green and pulled both boys aside. According to the rules moving the ball from the hazard added two strokes to the score and not just one.
Riley had won by one stroke. He was going to advance to regionals.
Senior Zach W had his own obstacles to overcome. With a ranking of 1 he was usually paired with competitors with a similar rank. At district he was paired with a competitor with a 1 ranking and one with a 6 ranking. This meant that each hole was significantly slower and threw the better players’ games off.
He also knew that this was his last year to go to state, his goal since he started competing as a freshman. He had advanced to regionals as a sophomore and as a junior. Last year he missed going to state by two strokes.
Zach’s love of golf goes beyond his high school career though. As the son of a golf pro, he has been around golf traditions since childhood.
“There’s a tradition around the game because it’s so old. There’s a higher standard surrounding it, a way of behaving and approaching the game,” Zach said.
Golf has often been called “a gentlemen’s game” due to the etiquette and individual integrity inherent in the game. For example, on the green a player should never walk between someone else’s ball and the hole. The player who is the farthest away putts first. The game depends on the honesty of the players involved, although at golf meets monitors are present.
After 18 holes, Zach finished 3rd with a score of 81. The team, consisting of senior Zach W, sophomore Riley S, freshman Raylyn S, and juniors Blaine E and Jacob H, narrowly missed 2nd place and the chance to advance to regionals by a few strokes. Other players included freshmen Zach C, Clayton W, and Eastin G.
Zach W and Riley S will compete at regionals on April 15-16 at the Ratliff Ranch Golf Course in Odessa.
“Most of these kids will play golf the rest of their life. Other athletes will pick it up later in life. It’s something they can do a long time,” Coach Gary Jack said. “The game is not just you against someone else or against yourself; it’s you against the course.”
According to those involved the sport of golf is a combination of competition and relaxation. It is an individual game that can be played with a group. Golf can be peaceful or intense. And it can be played for a lifetime.
“You rely on yourself,” Zach W explained. “Whether you succeed or fail is of your own doing.”
