The Miners boys golf team is about halfway through their regular season, with three matches left to go. Having gone winless through their first four matches, Park City said they feel as if their time is coming and are about to turn a corner.
The Miners will travel to the Bonneville Golf Course Thursday for their fifth meet of the season. Park City has their one home match Sept. 18, starting at 9 a.m. on the Park City Golf Course.
The Miners finished third in their fourth match this past Thursday, shooting an even-par 288 as a team. Park City finished behind East and Highland and Junior Linus Einum led the Miners, carding 70.
“We are happy,” said first year Head Coach Jenny MacDougall. “We’re catching momentum at the right time of the season.”
MacDougall added that her players all feel there’s plenty of room to improve down the stretch of the season. That excitement is contagious in their locker room.
The Miners are also continuing to bond as teammates through off-the-course events like team dinners. It’s boosting everyone’s energy back on the links.
“The sportsmanship and energy are there; it’s a really exciting time,” MacDougall said.
MacDougall attributes the slower start to players getting into the swing of things with school starting and coming off summer break. Despite the start, all that matters is this home stretch.
She said she wants to keep the program atop the Utah ranks, where former Head Coach and Park City High School Vice Principal George Murphy left it. She’s confident the guys on her team can contend for a back-to-back state championship.
The Miners’ regional championship will be on Sept. 29 at The Ridge Golf Club in West Valley City. The 4A state championship will be held Oct. 8 and 9 at Lakeside Golf Course in West Bountiful. MacDougall said she doesn’t know who will compete for Park City in the two title events, but that she loves her team’s depth this season and it could be lots of players.
“If we can stay focused and consistent the next three weeks, we’re going to be in a really competitive position,” MacDougall said. “Consistency is huge in golf.”
The Miners are ranked eighth in 4A. The top 16 teams after the regional championships will get a shot to vie for a state title.
“The strategy is taking each stroke and course one at a time, because they have equal importance,” MacDougall said.