Oxford’s girls varsity golf team is going to face some stiff competition this season and any victories it achieves will require a true team effort.
‘We have no stars,? said Coach Terry Kelley. ‘We have five pretty solid players. And of those five, if we can get four who score well, we’re good.?
‘It’s not like the past where I’ve had someone who could shoot 40, 41, 42, 43,? he said. ‘We’re so balanced . . . Mostly they’re going to average around 50. So, 200 is going to be a good nine-hole score for us.?
Looking at the schedule, Kelley knows there aren’t going to be any easy matches this season.
‘I think they’re all going to be tough,? he said. ‘The league has improved a great deal.?
The addition of Clio to the Flint Metro League doesn’t make things any easier. ‘I expect they’ll be in the top four,? Kelley said.
With seven juniors and seniors making up a majority of the nine-member team, Kelley said experience and ‘shooting around 50? will ‘be our strength.?
The coach was proved correct when the team beat Lutheran North 207-217 in the season opener Friday. The girls scored 50, 51, 52 and 54.
Kelley called senior Kelsy King and junior Christi Schiffman his ‘steadiest players,? consistently scoring in the high 40s/low 50s.
Of junior Clare Hubbard, the coach said, ‘She has the best short game out here. She’s the best pitcher and putter that we’ve got.?
Kelley said Hubbard’s working on a new swing right now so she ‘maybe a little high at the beginning of the year, but look for her to come around by the end.?
With regard to senior Karen Offer, Kelly said, ‘She’ll be pretty good. She’ll be the most volatile of the bunch in terms of up and down (scores). Sometimes she’ll be higher than she should be. Sometimes she’ll have some under 50 rounds.?
Senior Stephanie Hiltunen has ‘developed a real solid swing? and will make a definite contribution on the course.
‘Keeping the ball in play and having a good short game ? that’s the secret with these kids,? Kelley said. ‘Don’t let the sevens becomes 11s . . . If you’re playing a hole and you’re in a situation that’s not going real good be smart, play it safe, take your seven. Don’t get careless and turn it into 11, that’s what kills them.?
Overall, Kelley said, ‘They’re a wonderful group of kids to work with and I’m enjoying it. We’re seeing improvement.?