Panther boy golfers to have strong team this fall

Panther boy golfers to have strong team this fall

Aug. 14, 2001

CODY DENNISON, A FRESHMAN, at Montezuma-Cortez High School, tries his chipping during a recent practice at Conquistador Golf Course. The Panther boys golf team opened the 2001 season playing at Tiara Rado in Grand Junction today after playing Bookcliff on Monday. They visit Rifle on Wednesday. Jack Jacobson is the new head coach.

By Jim Thomas
Journal Sports Editor

Although this is his first year of coaching golf at the high school level, new Montezuma-Cortez High School head boys coach could have a very good team this fall.

The Panthers teed the ball up for the 2001 season on Monday at Bookcliff and they play at Tiara Rado in Grand Junction today, Aug. 14, before completing their swing by playing at Rifle on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

Jacobson, who is a 1967 graduate of MCHS, returned to help his alma mater out by taking over as head of the boys golf program. Now retired after spending 28 years in the insurance business minding other people’s money, he now wants to spend his time on the golf course. He recently won the Cortez Men’s Golf Association’s Club Championship, defeating one of his star players in sophomore Shea Sena by one stroke.

Jacobson replaces Mike Allison who resigned in order to concentrate his duties as athletic director at Montezuma-Cortez High School. Allison coached the team for three seasons, himself replacing longtime coach Mert Keel.

Just before the team left on the trip, Jacobson had the team go through an 18-hole qualifier. Plain and simple, Jacobson took the top five players to compete in these tournaments.

Jacobson said a player has got to earn the right to play in a tournament.

"The top five players from qualifying will play. I don’t care if a players is shooting very well, he still has got to play well in the qualifying to go on a trip. I believe a kid has got to earn the right to play and I believe that," he reported.

Junior Keenan Lovett shot the lowest round of 77, sophomores Sena and Michael Stroud came in one stroke back, while sophomore Casey Richey shot 89 and junior Alex Stewart carded a 90.

"Keenan will be our no. 1 golfer right now, but that doesn’t mean Shea or Michael or someone else won’t come along and knock him off the top spot," Jacobson said. "We have some very good golfers on this team."

What does Jacobson expect out of his players this early in the season on the first trip?

"First of all, good sportsmanship. I want our players to conduct themselves as gentlemen golfers. I expect them to win, well, I want them to win. But I really want them just to play as best as they can. They have the ability to well as team and as individuals. They need to keep their composure and not give up if they have a bad hole. Young golfers seem to get down on themselves easily. If they miss a shot, they just need to forget about it. That’s hard to do."

Right now 10 golfers are out and two more have since come out but are not yet ready to compete, according to Jacobson.

Making up the second team right now are freshman Cody Dennison, freshman Billy Goode, freshman Adam Berrada, senior Casey Stone, and senior Brandon Hughes.

"We have good young prospects. One thing about this team is that they are all young. We have some talented guys and they are getting excited about the season," he added.

Jacobson said he likes to teach the short game.

"So many strokes are lost in and around the green. Chipping and putting are so important. That is usually one part of my game that is pretty good and that’s where I can help these youngsters," he said recently.

The Panthers return home to host their own tournament on Aug. 23 at Conquistador Golf Course. They travel to Durango (at Hillcrest) Aug. 24 and go to Pagosa Springs on Aug. 25. The month of August has them at Battlement Mesa on the 30th and Delta on the 31st. By that point in the season, much of their season will be in the books before school has even started.

The take quite a break and not playing again until competing at Fairway Pines near Ridgway Sept. 10. They play at Dos Rios in Gunnison Sept. 13 and at Montrose Sept. 14. Regionals is slated Sept. 17-18 at Tiara Rado. The Class 4A State Tournament is set for Oct. 1-2 at a site to be determined.

Look for the Panthers to do have a strong season. Look for Stone to emerge and become a strong golfer. Both Sena and Lovett played a lot of golf this summer as did Goode. Several individuals have a chance to go to State, if not the whole team, according to Jacobson.