Performance, improvement mean more to Ross boys golf than win-loss results

FREMONT – Perhaps the hardest thing for the Ross boys golf team to do this season is just remembering.

Remembering they, individually, have little to no experience.

Remembering to set modest goals and keep realistic expectations.

And, above all, remembering golf is hard and bad days happen.

The Little Giant golf team had its first disappointing performance of the season Wednesday morning at the Fremont Country Club. Ross lost a dual match against Whitmer, 176-214, but the result matters less to the team than its performance.

Coach Jim Scharer sets a shot goal for his team prior to each event. Ross opened the season aiming for 425 in an 18-hole invitational at St. Francis and ended up carding a 406. The following tournament saw Ross post a 423 on a day the goal was 440. Considering the Little Giants have a combined six years of experience in their top eight players, Scharer has liked what he’s seen from his team in the early going of the year.

“At St. Francis, we finished 18 shots better than we did last year, with four seniors,” Scharer said. “At Central, we finished 35 shots better than we did, so we were 53 shots better in our first two matches over last year.”

But golf is a game that takes as quickly as it gives. Playing their first event at home, Ross was hoping for a score in the low 200s over nine holes. Wednesday’s 217 left a disappointed taste in the Little Giants’ mouths.

“I was hitting it off the tee all right but my approach shots and my putting was not good at all,” said junior Braxton White. “Normally, my putting game has been my best but it just wasn’t on.”

Zane Rusch carded Ross’ low round of the day with a 50 while White and Cole Druckenmiller each had 54 and Owen Smith rounded out the scoring with a 56.

“We’re not expecting as much as in previous years, because we’re so young,” said senior Owen Smith, whose two years of experience is among the most on the team. “We’re working to beat ourselves, essentially, and working to get a better score than our previous match.”

Rusch is a junior who has taken up the game for the first time this year, looking to fill the time before hockey and baseball seasons roll around. He said the Little Giants have to remind themselves to stay positive when shots go amiss.

“You have to forget about the past shots, forget about the bad shots and not get angry,” Rusch said. “It’s not easy.”

Scharer said fast greens caught Ross by surprise Wednesday and his players were slow to adjust.

“I told them every day that is a good day, be glad and appreciate it, because there will be days where I’m not going to stand before you and say ‘This was a good day’ and this is going to be one of them,” Scharer said. “You can only play to your expectations. There are certain expectations you have and hopefully we can learn from this.”

Scharer does, however, take comfort in knowing the future holds promise. The team’s No. 1 golfer, senior Dylan Genzman, has been gone on vacation since the season’s first tournament, leaving a crop of six juniors to develop and rely on each other for scores.

“I really do believe next year, if we work hard and play in the summer, we can be shooting in the 370s next year,” Scharer said.

Ross returns to action next Tuesday at 4 p.m. when it hosts Eastwood at the Fremont Country Club.