Carroll golf already building on strong expectations

The potential is fairly evident.

The Carroll golf teams finished second and fourth on the boys side last season at the state meet, while the girls finished seventh. And the boys have all the key players returning.

Again this year, the Dragons are loaded and will compete with three varsity squads, a JV team and a developmental team. The girls will sport varsity, JV and developmental teams.

The depth of the Dragons golf teams will easily allow them to handle their 22-event spring season. Early on, the results have been promising.

At the Aggie Cup Invitational in College Station, the boys Green team finished second overall, while the Black team finished fourth.

Junior Mason Greenberg was the second-place overall finisher for the meet for Carroll. Greenberg shot rounds of 74 and 70.

Senior Ben Fernandez shot the lowest round for the event, carding a 69 on his second round.

The early momentum is feeding the anticipation for a season with a superb conclusion.

“The kids are hungry,” said Carroll head coach Matt Glenn. “We were so close last year, and everyone is back. The surprises are that a lot of kids got better during the summer and we had some good team bonding in the fall. I’m just trying to see them through, he said.

The fall season is team-focused but the spring is when it really matters, Glenn said. “We’ll just take it one tournament and one step at a time.”

Those single steps will eventually lead to the district tournament in late March with the regionals two weeks later.

And those will be the major steps in the season, Glenn said.

“You can’t win a state championship if you’re not there,” he said.

Making it past the district meet and to the regional – which will be local this year rather than on the road in Lubbock – will utilize the talents of those returning players and possibly some of the younger players who have made progress.

“This year, we have a bunch of young kids who ended up playing well for us last year,” Glenn added. “At this level you have to have some experience,” he said of what it will take to claim a state title.

“They play all over the country in big events, but it’s a different story when you have nine other guys depending on you.”

Some of those who are anticipated to make that long run toward a state tournament appearance include players such as Greenberg and Fernandez.

They’ll be joined by Trent Hill, Willie Hammond, Hunter Glenn and Brandon McKelvey, who all compete on the Green squad.

Along with Fernandez, the Black team includes George Gardner, Fisher, Colin Hamilton and Colin Kober.

Some of the girls who should be expected to lead the way include Ally Alonzo, Christina Gilchrest and Ellie Youree.

With such experience returning, Glenn said practices have been more mental in focus.

“We’re working hard every day and working to get better, Glenn said. “We’re learning from mistakes and growing as a player.”

Five of the Dragons have already signed letters of intent to play at the college level.

Fisher has signed with TCU, Hunter Glenn with Louisiana Tech, Hammond to Southern Mississippi and Fernandez to Kansas State.

“I’m excited and ready for the season to get rocking and rolling,” Glenn said. “I’m proud to coach these young men and women.”

This story was originally published February 16, 2015 at 3:19 PM with the headline "Carroll golf already building on strong expectations."