Cardinal golf sets high goals
By Don Winter
As the Washburn High School golf teams take to the links for the 2009 season, they look to hard work and dedication to help achieve the lofty goals that they have set for themselves. "We’re pretty young," head coach Phil Hentsch commented. On the boys’ side WHS returns only three letter winners: Jeffery Rasmussen, Camden Moran, and Bryce Barnhardt. All three competed in the state tournament last year, and will be looked to for leadership. Coach Hentsch also plans to rely heavily on the improving junior Michael Trueblood. Young players whom there are high hopes for include freshman Evan Eberle and Kirk Saand eighth grader Brett Schreiner. The girls team has even less experience, with Hanna Borner the only returning letter winner from last year. Fortunately, the Cardinals have an experienced head coach to help this year’s youth with any potential growing pains, as this will be Coach Hentsch’s 15th year at the reins of the golf program. "We’re coming along well," Coach Hentsch replied when asked how his young team was developing. "We have a ways to go, but we are showing definite signs of improvement". When asked what strategy a coach implements with such a youthful squad, Hentsch replied that, "We are really working on improving our short game. We look for all of our scoring to take place within 150 yards of the cup, with a heavy emphasis on chipping and two putting once we are on the green."
