Titans' golfers will have opportunity to grow

Weather has slowed down the start of golf season, but the boys golf team is doing what it can to catch up.

“We were flying high at this time last year,” coach Don Lee said. “Snow and weather have slowed us down a bit, but we are doing OK.”

Practices have been underway at Tartan Park Golf Course, the Titans home course. Tryouts are finished, the roster is set and the season is about to get going.

Playing in the Classic Suburban Conference (CSC), Tartan will be a long shot to win it with Mahtomedi being the favorite once again, so the 2011 season is about improvement, progression and perhaps some shock.

“The Zephyrs will be strong again this year,” Lee said. “They will be tough because they have talented players with a lot of experience. St. Thomas Academy and Hill-Murray will be up there, too. After those three, it’s a scramble and hopefully for us we can surprise some people and be right there.”

If Tartan will open some eyes in the CSC, its youth will have to grow at a rapid pace. The spring sports season is short and the aforementioned snow made the golf season even shorter.

Tartan will need to get comfortable around the greens right from the get-go, because it can’t afford to fall behind in the conference standings with the depth Mahtomedi, St. Thomas Academy and Hill-Murray have on its teams.

With the youth on the squad this season, that could be even tougher as the players will have to go through a learning curve to compete at the varsity level. Only one player, junior Jordan Bachmeir, has significant varsity experience.

This year Bachmeir will play the role as the Titans best golfer, but also a mentor to the inexperience his teammates have.

“We are young, with only one guy having a lot of experience,” Lee said. “Some of our guys that have experience, we hope that they play a role as leaders and our younger players catch on."

“Good play and confidence is contagious, so it’s important for our experienced guys to get off to a good start.”

The next week will be busy for Tartan and experience will have a chance to grow right away. On Monday on April 18, Tartan will host an invitational tournament that will consist of several teams from the CSC, including Mahtomedi.

Just one day later conference play continues when the Titans go to Manitou Ridge Golf Club to play against North St. Paul and Simley. On April 20 they go to Crystal Lake Golf Course to go up against Richfield and Mahtomedi.

There might be a few bumps in the road for the Titans, but if the maturation process occurs quickly with their underclassmen, Tartan could open a few eyes in the conference.

“I just want to see our team improve and progress,” Lee said. “Like I said, the conference will be tough, but if our team is getting better as the year moves forward, we hope to be in the mix.”