Friday, August 18, 2000
Cincinnati boys golf preview
Lakota West returns to top
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
The voting was closer than expected as Lakota West edged Fairfield and St. Xavier for the No. 1 spot in The Cincinnati Enquirer's preseason boys golf poll.
Ranked No. 2 or 3 throughout the 1999 season, the Firebirds wrapped up last season's poll championship by winning the the prestigious Dick Hadley Classic in the final week of the season.
The Firebirds were Cincinnati's only Division I team to qualify for the state tournament where they finished fourth.
“I guess the favorites hat has been put on us,” Lakota West coach Jack Buhi said. “We have five of the kids back from last year's team and some of the kids played a lot of tournaments during the summer.”
Here's a look at the top 10 teams as voted by the coaches .
1. Lakota West: Senior Kenton Hobbs, a second team Division I all-state player in 1999, is expected to anchor a Firebird team that is loaded with senior leadership and depth.
Three other seniors, Roddy Steiger, Brent Hubert and Kevin Buhrlage, also are solid players with junior Ryan Williams and sophomore Kyle Ward breaking into the starting lineup.
“I didn't follow the kids around too much this summer, but I know most of them played in local and national tournaments,” Buhi said. “Roddy and Kevin are baseball players and didn't play much golf.”
As a result, Buhi was cautiously optimistic concerning the Firebirds ability to successfully defend their Greater Miami Conference championship and earn another berth in the state meet.
“It's going to be a competitive year,” Buhi said. “Fairfield lost only one golfer and I understand that Oak Hills, Moeller, St. X and Hamilton also have good teams.”
2. Fairfield: The Indians could be called the "team of brotherly love' with five sets of brothers in the program at various levels.
Seniors Ben Phalen, Brad Mitchell and Allan Castle will be the mainstays along with sophomores Tony Bosslew and Mike Mitchell and junior Kyle DeBord.
“We will be competitive in most of our matches,” 13-year Fairfield coach Steve Kessler said. “And, maybe we'll have an opportunity to win one or two.”
Fairfield has posted a winning record in the past eight seasons, and the Indians appear to have the potential to surface as Cincinnati's best before the season concludes in October.
3. St. Xavier: After tryouts concluded last week at Weatherwax Golf Course, the Bombers' roster was filled with five virtually unknown players.
“It was quite an interesting tryout,” third year Bombers coach Brian Shircliff said. “I was pleasantly surprised, but this isn't the team I expected.”
Senior Andrew Deye and junior Steven Gay are the only returning starters to earn a spot on the roster along with Chris Manhart, a backup as a junior last season.
One of the biggest surprises was junior Jack Lennon, a player who refused quit after being cut by Shircliff the past two seasons.
Andrew Rindfleisch, a junior who finished third in the PGA Junior National Series in Dayton, is another surprise along with freshman Brad Blinn.
Andy Schroeder, a junior who lived in Japan the past two seasons, also won a starting position along with sophomore Trevor Kramer, a junior varsity player last year.
4. Moeller: Although coach Rick Bohne' is singing the blues, it would be a mistake to take the Crusaders lightly.
“We lost four starters and we'll be too young this year,” Bohne' said. “We have some good players but they lack experience.”
Senior returning starters Nick Wunder and Jeff Silber will anchor the Crusaders with seniors Brett Mueller, Dan DeBrunner and Joe Herzog, along with junior Steve Wallace, Jr., the likely starters.
“There's always that tradition and pride to carry us,” Bohne' said. “We're not as strong as we've been but these kids are enthusiastic, get along well and are willing to listen.”
5. Elder: Although the Panthers graduated five seniors, coach Mike Trimpe predicts an outstanding season for the Panthers.
“The thing I love about our team is that they're mostly juniors and they love to play together,” Trimpe said. “The team chemistry is great and I'm looking forward to the season.”
Steve Montgomery and Tom Ciresi played well during the summer and are expected to show the way along with Scott Weeks, Joe Schwallie and sophomore Chris Johnson.
“At least 15 of the 25 guys who tried out for the team played all summer,” Trimpe said. “It made for a very competitive tryout situation.”
6. Kings: Taking the Knights lightly this season could be a mistake.
Coached by Bill Frambes, Kings returns four solid players from a team that was 14-1 in dual meets last year.
“After watching last year's performance and this summer's tournaments, we should have four solid players who average below 80,” Frambes said. “We have four more golfers who could shoot that low on any given day.”
Senior Nick Mathiason and junior Ben Stewart, both two-year letter winners, will anchor a team that also features Lou Galbraith, Bobby Jacks and Nate Keller.
“We are young but still have tournament experience,” said Frambes, who's Knights have recorded seven consecutive winning seasons “This may be the best group I've had at Kings.”
7. Wilmington: Senior leadership and experience are the strengths of a Hurricane team that has won the Fort Ancient Valley Conference and qualified to the district tournament.
Coach Tim Martin will rely on seniors Ryan Chambers, Scott Hayden, Zach Harte and Robert Johnson along with juniors Nate Hollingsworth and Ross Wagstaff.
“Ryan (Chambers) could be the top player in the Cincinnati area,” Martin said. “He averaged 38.8 strokes for nine holes last year and qualified to state.”
Scott Hayden and Zach Harte are also proven players which puts pressure on the three remaining starters to come through.
8. Mason: Four-year starter Mike Salzarulo and three-year starter Joe Reuss will be the foundation for a Comet team that could surface as a contender.
First year coach Dick Sutphin will also depend on senior Kevin Brown, junior Brian Altherr, sophomores Jordan Brown, David Hicks and Mike McCann, along with freshman Parker Suess.
“We will rely heavily on three sophomores with no varsity experience, Sutphin said. “We have a strong one-two-punch with Mike and Joe, and they will provide strong senior leadership”
9. La Salle: One of the most improved programs the past five years under coach Larry Long, the Lancers are expected to challenge for the Greater League South title.
Seniors John Craynon and Brandon Nutting, along with junior Bobby Santerre, will be the mainstays with Dan Schaller, David Kessler, Ryan Kummer and Jeff Jennings expected to contribute.
10. Turpin: Spartan coach Bill Hanneken was surprised at the top 10 ranking.
“We have one senior, four juniors, a sophomore and a freshman,” Hanneken said. “We lost five players who will be hard to replace.”
Jordan Roth and Doug Kurzynski are the mainstays, but it will be the play of Pat Heekin, Luke Underhill, Jake Gunzenhaeuser, Justin Schroeder and Chris Agenter that will determine the success of the team.”
10. Princeton: The Vikings return the top three players from a team that finished second in the tough Greater Miami Conference last year.
Coach Kent Woodrow will rely heavily on Nolan Kamerer, Mike Bergeson and Jim Scherl, but the key to success revolves around finding several golfers who will step up.
The likely candidates are Brian Schmittou, Evan Stuckert, Rob Stephen, Mel Mpagi, Nick McKee, Colin Morrissey and Craig Dunbar.
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