PAGE C6, KEIZERTIMES, MARCH 15, 2019
McNary golf teams return solid core
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
Coming into the 2019
season, both McNary’s girls
and boys golf teams fi nd
themselves in similar situa-
tions.
For the girls squad, the
loss of senior Hannah Elliot
is huge. Elliot fi nished third
at the Greater Valley Con-
ference District Tournament
last year after shooting an 88
on the fi rst day, followed by
an 87 on the following day,
which earned her a spot at
the state tournament.
Without their top golf-
er from last year, the Celtics
will rely heavily on Juralee
Stover in 2019.
Stover also qualifi ed for
state last season by taking
fi fth at districts and looks to
build off the success she had
in 2018 by putting together a
strong season in 2019.
“I expect her to lead our
team with her play and lead-
ership. Over the off-season
she committed herself to im-
proving her game,” McNary
girls golf coach Brad Lomax
said.
“The one thing that
stands out the most is her
confi dence. I now see a
young lady that is willing to
be more aggressive from 150
KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings
yards out or help a teammate
out with reading the greens McNary’s Joel Dutcher hopes to contend for a district title in his junior season as the leader of the McNary boys golf team.
at practice.”
However, Stover isn’t the tion to be at the state tour- ter — who placed third at the placed second at districts trict tournament, which is
and fi nished 23rd at the his personal best.
only girls golfer that Mc- nament in a couple months. GVC Tournament.
“I expect Joel to be one of
But the Celtics will return state tournament last sea-
“Success will be each
Nary is relying on.
The Celtics also return se- player tweaking small parts their top golfer from last year son. Dutcher shot a 71 in the best players in the league
niors Emma John and Katie of their game everyday at in junior Joel Dutcher, who his fi rst round at the dis- once again,” McNary boys
Wyatt, as well as juniors in practice, bringing and main-
Bailey True and Carly McEl- taining a positive attitude
haney, which makes their and sharing in each other’s
depth among the best in the small victories,” Lomax said.
Sam Goesch CLU, Agent
“I believe that if each
league.
“We return a group of player can do those things
players that all have the ex- individually, they will go
perience and potential to go lower each week and as a
under 100 at every match. team the McNary ladies golf
Any one of these girls could team will make the state golf
play in any one of the varsity tournament in mid-May.”
3975 River Road North
The McNary boys team,
positions.”
Keizer, OR 97303
With an experienced on the other hand, also grad-
Bus: 503-393-6252 Web: SamGoesch.com
group, don’t be surprised if uated a state qualifi er last
season
in
Matt
Langenwal-
the Lady Celts are in posi-
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1211999
Sam Goesch
Ins Agcy Inc
golf coach Rick Ward said.
While Dutcher hopes to
compete for a district crown
for the second straight year,
Ward acknowledged that it
might be a little more dif-
fi cult this season since Mc-
Nary is now in the same
conference with Summit,
Bend and Mountain View.
“Our league got a lot
harder. We have much more
competitive teams,” Ward
said. “As a team, we’ll have
to step up.”
Nathan Young is expect-
ed to be the number two
golfer on the squad while
freshman Brady Jackson will
likely fi ll the three-spot.
Junior Andrew Waldo —
who is a transfer from North
Carolina — is also expected
to be in the rotation.
While the boys team
doesn’t quite have the depth
that the girls squad has, Ward
believes that his guys still
might be able to squeak into
the state tourney.
“I don’t see this team
winning the district, but we
should at least compete for a
top-four spot,” Ward said.
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