Amherst golf continues record setting season

It has been a record setting season for the Amherst golf team so far this season. The Comets have set three school records in just the past two weeks as they prepare for the end of the regular season and the postseason.

On Sep. 16 at Pine Brook Golf Course, the Comets put it all together, rewriting the school history books. The team shot a school record 141, a team best through nine holes, Ryan Yoder was -3 under and tied the best individual under par for nine holes and shot a 31, the lowest nine hole score in school history.

For the team score of 141, Yoder shot a 31, Austin Bray shot a 35, Joe Kramer shot a 36 and Prince Tran shot a 39.

Yoder was phenomenal all week, shooting 1-under par Tuesday at Carlisle Golf Course against Elyria, 1-under par Wednesday at Springvale Golf Club against North Olmsted and as mentioned his 3-under par Thursday at Pine Brook vs North Ridgeville

Yoder was a total of 5 under par for 27 holes for the week.

“Going into the week I knew I had to shoot well to catch up in the (Southwestern Conference) rankings and I knew my game was there,” Yoder said. “I finally put it together and shot well. I have to give credit to my teammates for pushing me and making me better every day.

“I also have to give credit to coach (Mitch Gillam) for keeping me in check since I started playing high school golf. I couldn’t ask for better teammates and coach. As far as the team goes, we know we have a great team and all it takes is for us to play our best game and we can do amazing things.”

Obviously the Comets have bigger goals in their sights but playing well in late September bodes well for the rest of the season.

“It’s a unique spot because it is a team sport and an individual sport,” Amherst coach Mitch Gillam said. “You are really getting the team aspect when five individuals post a good score.

“Our guys really care about each other and they pull for each other to do well,” Gillam said. “That is where the team aspect comes in.”

Gillam added “they have bought into the fact that if we post a good team score, even if they had a bad day they are still happy because the team did well.

When all the hard work culminates on the course, it is a great feeling for golfers everywhere.

“I think it shows how good we can really be,” Yoder said. “I am super proud of what we have done as a team and we truly believe we have not hit our full potential yet. We believe that will hit during playoff time.

“It is a great confidence booster because it shows we can come together and shoot an amazing team score,” Yoder said. “We hope that we can do that for the rest of the season and especially during sectional time.”

“From a coaching standpoint what is nice is the players have gone and worked on their individual skills,” Gillam said. “I have tried to keep them grounded and focused from a mental standpoint and help them make the right decisions. When all that comes together and they post good scores, it is rewarding.”

Leadership is key and for the Comets, it all starts with senior Austin Bray.

“Austin has done a phenomenal job of leadership this year for us,” Gillam said. “He has really shown the younger players what’s supposed to be done and preparing and being a good teammate. I can’t praise him enough.”

Another plus to having multiple solid players is the friendly competition that can brew from that.

“The one thing I will say is this, we have always been fortunate to have one guy on our team that is playing really well,” Gillam said. “So when you have that it does bring our friendly competition and matches. Some of the best matches I have seen this year are between our own team.”

As the season wraps up and the postseason preparation begins, the mental becomes just as important as the physical.

“What I am looking for is just making the right decisions,” Gillam said. “In October, the conditions are out of your control. As a player, you just have to make the right decisions and execute the shot.

“It comes down to if you can make the five footer for par or if you run in a couple 10-12 footers for birdie then you can have a special day,” Gillam added.

And with the Ryder Cup right around the corner, who do the Comets have taking the cup?

“The United States baby lets go,” Gillam remarked.