Entering just their second season as an official member of the Lancaster-Lebanon League, Donegal golfers make a bold prediction: Top contender to win Section 3.
Attending media day:
(from left)
Andrew Fabian, senior
Ryan Smeltz, junior
Coach Trent Hoffmaster
James Peterson, senior
"It's not just confidence in our whole group," says Peterson. "It's that we know that other schools have lost a lot of players. We have to still fight, practice the same way we did last year. Because if you get sidetracked and think 'Oh, this is going to be too easy for us' then you're going to ... you know what happens." Conversely, Donegal lost only one senior.
After Donegal passed on an opportunity to establish a golf team in 1999, the school went another two decades without golf, but Athletic Director Frank Hawkins pushed for a team a few years. Hoffmaster, who coached boys and girls tennis for years, was quick to sign on to lead the team. The team played matches two years ago but didn't join the league until last season, when it went 10-10.
"We have a lot bigger expectations," says Peterson. "This is probably 1-2-3," referring to the three players at the table.
"This is 1-2-3. I don't know where the probably is," adds Smeltz of a team comprising the top 20 players from 37 who expressed an interest and 30 who tried out. Of those 10 will compete for the top 6 spots to participate in matches.
The three struggled in the monsoon rains of last year's league match. Fabian, first-team all-section last year, describes being within a couple of strokes when his club slipped from his hand and he went on to play a 13 on that hole and drop from contention.
But they say the experience will help them.
"I think mentally it makes you a better golfer. Like being able to handle those situations like it's not a big thing," says Smeltz. Playing in such conditions can provide the mental toughness to compete on bad-weather days, he says.
"If you only practice in picture perfect conditions, then that's the one that I think you're going to be able to play in," he says.
Peterson has played for 12 years, but Fabian started only three years ago and Smeltz a year and a half. They say the picked up the mental game of golf so quickly by playing the mental game of baseball. Fabian still plays baseball, but Smeltz gave it up for tennis and he also wrestles.
LNP | LancasterOnline hosted Golf Media Day at its downtown Lancaster office to connect local media with Lancaster-Lebanon League players and coaches.
