Youthful Ridgewood golf team seeking improvement
WEST LAFAYETTE – While he is unwilling to write off the 2014 season, the future looks quite bright for Lester McCurdy’s Ridgewood High School golf team.
The Generals have just one senior and a pair of juniors as they work to develop into the team McCurdy believes they can be.
“We will likely be a middle of the road team in the IVC until our youth grows up and begins to reach their potential,” said McCurdy, now in his second season as head coach. “Our youth is going to be a challenge.”
Sam Bucher is the lone senior on the team and is joined by junior Nick Blakley and sophomore Brice Dennis as the team’s tri-captains.
That trio, along with sophomore Jared Norman, makes up the starting core while the other position is a continuing battle among junior Christian Lippencott, sophomore Jacob LaVigne and five promising freshmen.
Included in that group are Palmer Erb, Adam Matusik, Hunter Hamilton, Ryan Zinkon and Kenny Lott.
Blakley has started off well, firing a 4-over-par 76 in the Coshocton Cup during which Coshocton fired a 322 to defeat River View (344) and Ridgewood (345). His score was good enough to tie for the second-lowest score of the match.
Dennis also shows promise as he was the Generals’ second man with a solid 80 at the Coshocton Cup. He then earned medalist honors with a nine-hole score of 39 in a narrow loss to Indian Valley. Blakley finished just one stroke behind.
“I’m excited about the potential of my top two golfers, and about the development of the rest of the team,” McCurdy said. “We just need to develop the needed experience to perform in pressure situations.”
Last year, the Generals were 7-8 in dual matches and 27-46 overall and placed fifth in the Inter-Valley Conference.
“I would like to see our top guys perform to their abilities and make it to the next level,” McCurdy added.
Ridgewood also is fielding a women’s team with junior Samantha Wilson leading the way. Her score of 90 helped the Lady Generals to a 13th place finish in the East District tournament.
Also participating are Amanda Hayes, Tyra Reed and Katy Chittum.
Category: High School
