Grand River Conference champion Bulldogs are ready for a new season, but their goals remain the same – conference, district and state titles.
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Gallatin R-5 golfers won nearly every time they hit the links last season, including a Class 1A state championship last May at A. L. Gustin Golf Course in Columbia. The 2-time defending Grand River Conference champion Bulldogs have wiped the slate clean for a new season, but their goals remain the same – conference, district and state titles.
“At the 1A level, we’re very fortunate to have the caliber of golfers we have, from top to bottom,” said GHS golf coach Tom Garnett.
Gallatin golfers play host to Hamilton and GRC runnerup Albany on Thursday in the opening competition of the 2000 season. Four of 5 golfers off last season’s state championship return for the Bulldogs, but competition has been fierce for varsity spots. In the 3 qualifiers held by Coach Garnett, only 8 total strokes have separated the top golfer from the #6 man.
“We have six capable of playing varsity but the rotation isn’t firmly established yet,” Coach Garnett said. “Any one of those six are capable of beating the others on any given day. That’s what it takes to be good, and I feel we will have a chance to be as good as or better than last year,” he added.
Senior Scott Crose, was a state medalist (7th) a year ago and led the Bulldogs in medalist finishes at last year’s meets. Sophomore Brice Garnett (19th) and junior Joey Evans (23rd) just finished out of the medal count at state. Senior Chad Sullenger also returns out of the state champion group. All 4 earned the medalist honor in at least one meet last season. All 4 returning Bulldogs were all-GRC golfers a season ago, and all finished in the top 10 at district.
Jake Humphrey, a sophomore, has earned his way into the varsity group competition as Gallatin golfers step up to fill the gap left by departed senior Jon Culver, a state medalist (9th) and GRC champion last season. Senior Neal Steward is also in the hunt for a varsity spot.
“There’s no question that Jon will be missed a lot,” says Coach Garnett, “but all the guys are playing really well right now. We had two sub-par rounds, from Joey and Chad, in our qualifiers, and three other rounds of even par,” he added. “Like I said before, anyone is capable of beating anyone else. They understand that.”
Ryan Thompson, a sophomore, is working hard and improving, said Garnett. He will play at the junior varsity level this season but is future varsity material, Coach Garnett said.
The Bulldogs will stay busy during the first week of the season. They travel to Clay Crest Golf Course in Liberty next Monday for the Darrell Gourley Tournament. This new tournament on the Gallatin schedule will put the Bulldogs in a competitive situation against their grouping of 1A-3A schools.