Sports editor
After playing on someone else’s course all season the Marion Warrior golf team will be at home Tuesday for the Marion Invitational.
However, before they tee it up at Marion Country Club, the Warriors will travel Friday to Salina to play at the Sacred Heart meet.
MHS co-head coach Tod Gordon said the six varsity golfers for the home meet would depend on two past meets and Salina.
Luke Gordon, Landon Leiker, and Lindsay Hett are set in the 1-3 spots. However, like it has been all season, spots 4-6 are up for grabs.
Niklas Bronnert has been playing well in the four spot, and most likely would retain his number four ranking.
Freshman Ryan Jones moved up to varsity level Tuesday at Bennington at an impressive performance at the junior varsity level.
However, Jones and Gordon double-up as track and field athletes, and will miss Friday’s tournament to be with the track team.
Coach Gordon said that would give freshman Jared Vondenkamp and sophomore Jordan Versch a chance to play in their first varsity meet.
Tod Gordon thinks Vondenkamp, Versch, Jones, or Tim Costello all have a chance to crack the top-six Tuesday at home.
“Only a couple of strokes separate the golfers from the varsity and JV teams,” Coach Gordon said.
The players will feel comfortable at home, but not like in past years, according to Tod Gordon.
“Normally playing on the home course is an advantage,” he said. At this point the condition of the Marion golf course is several weeks behind the golf courses we have been playing (because of poor weather).
“The Marion golfers are struggling to make adjustments to the condition of the Marion greens and fairways compared to other courses.”
It was slow this past week with the Warriors only competing in a junior varsity meet. Coach Gordon said the varsity has not consistently been able to get out and play.
“I would like to have the weather cooperate. The varsity has yet to play on calm day,” he said.
Still, Gordon likes what he has seen from his young athletes.
“I am very pleased with the season,” the coach said. “The athletes have worked very hard and it is amazing to see how much improvement each golfer has made. The goal was simple — to enjoy the great game of golf and improve each and every day.”
With the league meet a little more than two weeks down the road, and regionals and state the two weeks after, Gordon said he believes his team can compete with anyone.
“The varsity team will be one of the top three teams in the regional,” he said. “Marion has a great chance to qualify for the state tournament.”
Tee time for the Marion Invitational is 3 p.m.