Jessieville golf swings into new season
The Jessieville boys and girls golf teams are led by head coach Jared White in his fifth year, and practice started in June in preparation for the upcoming season.
A typical week for Jessieville golf is three practices and weather permitting, practice starts off with range sessions followed by chip and putt work followed by scenario drills.
One day a week the Lions will walk nine holes to manage different situations.
“We are really young this year,” White said. “We have got a couple of senior boys — no senior girls. We are kind of light in the girls. Last year we did have a freshman Hailey Holland. Last year (she) hit her target score for a 3A girl golfer. Three other girls finished ahead of her or she would have qualified as an individual for state.”
Senior Grant Huneycutt has the longest drive on the team at over 200 yards.
Huneycutt has played three years on the team.
“I don’t really have a favorite part of the game,” Huneycutt said. “I have been playing for a long time, and I just want to play a lot more. We did pretty good last year and hopefully we can qualify for state this year.” Consistency on the golf course is key. White said senior Leonard Huff is capable of shooting in the low 40s in a nine-hole match.
Huff says he likes to go at his own pace on the course, and his best clubs are his woods.
“Longest putt I have ever hit was about 15 feet, and my drive is over 200 if I hit it good,” Huff said.
There are no college prospects on Jessieville’s boys or girls team currently.
“We do have some good young ones though,” White said. “In the ninth grade you can tell some of them have a skill set, and the hours put in you can tell if they are going to make a golfer or not.”
Practices are a mix of the girls and boys which makes coaching both squads together a little bit easier for White.
Jessieville started something new this season where seventh and eighth graders can come and practice with the teams. However, they cannot compete in matches.
A typical match would be nine holes with a stroke limit per hole. They walk the course with no golf carts, and they will set the groups according to skill sets for pace of play.
Jessieville started its season Monday against Danville and Cossatot River. Holland, who narrowly missed the individual cut for state last season, was the only girl of the three on Jessieville’s roster that competed Monday.