GHS coach Kevin Mickelson wanted to make sure the 25 newcomers to the sport got plenty of it in practices and matches. He also had to make sure senior Paden Davis got to experience a trip to state in his final prep season.Because both things took place, it’s mission accomplished for the Cowboys’ veteran coach. “The future looks extremely bright for GHS golf,” Mickelson said. “We were a young team. We knew we had to rebuild and not reload. We have accomplished that this year. I am excited to see the leaps and bounds we hope to take in the offseason. “We had a lot of ‘never-evers’ to start the year and I think many of the returners have caught the golf bug. They are hungry now and understand what high school golf can be and the opportunities it presents. They want to get after it and be competitive. When the season kicks off next Aug. 3, we will have some golfers out there, not just some people that play golf.”Ten of those newly minted golfers went to Black Canyon in Montrose last week and Spencer Reynolds and John Dempsey each posted a score of 90. “They worked hard to be consistent and put the ball in play, that’s step one,” Mickelson said. “Both those guys are working to improve their approach shots and work on and around the green. That’s where everyone is losing their strokes. Scoring is done from 100 yards and in.”Which is something Davis will ride all the way back to the Class 2A State Tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.In order to be prepared for a course he hasn’t seen, Davis played a practice round on Sunday. An old school, parkland style course, the tree-lined fairways present plenty of targets and a framework for golfers. There are no hidden nooks and crannies in the layout and the greatest defense of par Elmwood provides is the greens. Postage stamp-sized short grass areas on par 3s and large, undulating putting surfaces on the par 5s.Because it’s the state tournament, Mickelson expects a few “sucker pins” that are tucked or barely on the green. Those lead to big numbers if a shot is off just a little and rolls into a bunker or a collar with grass growing in multiple directions. “You don’t have to be exceptionally long at Elmwood,” Mickelson said. “Paden has matured, too. In the sense that putting the ball in play is key. He has to do that at Elmwood. The greens are like upside down paper plates that are a little elevated and undulate. On there you have to earn your keep and putt like a champ.”(James Nokes writes for Colorado Preps.)
Paden Davis
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here