Boys? golf setting sights high in 2016

After missing out on the state tournament by two strokes a season ago, Derek Anding has one goal in mind.

?I?m going to state,? the Washington senior golfer said. ?There?s no doubt about it. I don?t want to come that close again and not make it. Our team is a lot better this year and I know we can get to state.?

Anding was two shots away on a tough district course from qualifying for state, and with a strong team behind him, there?s potential for him to not be the only Demon there.

Washington will enter 2016 after losing just two golfers who carded varsity action to graduation, and with a high number of returners, they hope it translates into big success.

?It?s a strength for us,? Washington boys? golf head coach Mark Berhow said. ?We have experience and guys who know what it takes to be successful in high school golf. That?s going to be an advantage for us. We have a lot of potential and I?m excited about it.?

The big key for the Demons last season was winning in close situations, as they advanced out of their sectional meet as a team by two strokes.

The Demons ended up fifth as a team at districts last year, and that same district course (Amana Colonies golf course) will be in their way of state this season.

?Our district course is one we are going to have to overcome,? Berhow said. ?It?s a hard course, but everyone has to play it. Last year we were there and it was rainy and windy and punishing. We?ll be going there again if we advance from sectionals, and if we want to get to state, we have to conquer the course.

?It?s up to us. Is the course going to beat you or are you going to beat it? If we lose too many strokes by punching out or penalties, it?ll hurt us.?

With Anding leading the corps of returners, sophomore Dalton Myers will look to build on his strong freshman campaign from a season ago.

?I think this year I?ll be relied on more for lower scores,? Myers said. ?Last year I was getting the feel of it, but now I have the hang of it. I need to post low scores.?

Myers and Anding are both looking for strong help from the other members of the team, with eight athletes vying for the six varsity spots to open the year.

?Mason (Rich), when he?s hitting the ball well, he?ll go really low,? Anding said. ?(Tanner) Coleman will be helping us a lot too. We have a lot of guys who can compete at the varsity level with any team out there.?

With the talent showing up in practice, there has been a lot of competition between the Demons early on.

?We have a good amount of depth, and it?s going to keep people sharp so they know that they have to stay at their best,? Berhow said. ?We have a lot of players who are going to vie for some spots. That?s the exciting part. We just have to put it all together and try to advance farther than we did last year, and that?s the question we are looking to answer this season.?

Although there?s a lot of competition among the teammates, things are remaining relaxed on the course.

?We are all pretty close with each other,? Anding said. ?We are always out here together and it will be smoother. We joke around and make the pressure go away.?

With a relaxed, but competitive atmosphere, Berhow said he thinks the key to this season is making sure they can enjoy the good shots, and have a short memory when things aren?t going their way.

?It all depends on how well we manage the course,? Berhow said. ?The history we?ve had of successful teams going to state, they were able to (move on from mistakes) on a consistent basis. We have to learn how to do that.?

The Demons are scheduled to open their season on Thursday in Mt. Pleasant.