The Llano High School golfers are off to a hot start this season.
Junior Jordan Hussion finished 12th at the Bandera Invitational February 5 hosted by Bandera High School at the Flying L Golf Course in Bandera. It was her first tournament of the year.
' She did well,' head coach Mike McIntosh said. 'She's getting better every year.'
Meanwhile, the boys golf team was second at the Bandera Invitational February 3 behind Boerne High, which is now a Class 5A member. Sophomore Luke Davis tied for first thanks to shooting a 73. Junior Graham Prokop and senior Stephen Barrack each shot a 77, while senior Heith Rhea scored a 79.
'The boys have had a great start to their season,' McIntosh said. 'You could tell they're not satisfied with how they scored.'
The best part about these Fantastic Four, the coach said, is how they bring their best to the links and out of each other daily. All are involved in other spring activities and sports, and they still keep golf a priority, he added.
'They're not going to neglect their golf game,' he said.
That's one reason why McIntosh believes these Yellow Jackets have it in them to accomplish more.
'This will be our third year to go to the regional tournament,' he recalled telling them at team gathering. 'Right now it's still potential. They know they're good enough. They have to perform.'
This is the second tournament where Davis has finished tied for first. Rules for this tournament used a scorecard playoff to determine the gold medalist, and Davis knew the other golfer had won based on the number of strokes at a particular hole. 'He was incredibly upset he wasn't going to win,' McIntosh said. 'He is very, very competitive. Right now he's on a different level.'
The coach said the Bible verse found in Proverbs 27:17 that states 'As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another' fits the team.
'They know if they hit their tendencies that particular day, they'll finish high,' he said. 'They know what they're capable of shooting. They get better and better prepared for the next tournament. They understand they want to be playing their best golf in March and April. They understand this is a journey that's just beginning.'
Hussion was one of 65 golfers in the girls tournament. The coach noted that the junior has many tools that help her score well.
'She hits the ball well,' he said. 'She has improved physically. She was not happy with the way she putted. She has high expectations of herself.'
The next step for her is 'the mental part' of the sport.
'She was having a good day on the greens,' the coach said. 'The rest of her game puts her at the top. If she can get her short game going, she'll take it to another level. She has the ability to be the best.'
The Yellow Jackets will compete at the Blanco Invitational February 18, while Hussion competes in the Blanco Girls Invitational February 19.
