The high school golf season is now in full swing on the Coast.
Both the Chatelech and Elphinstone Secondary School teams have started league play and both teams are off to strong starts.
On April 6, Chat defeated Elphi in an exhibition match, and Elphi rebounded nicely with its first league win on Monday, beating Balmoral by a score of 6-1.
"It's a good start for us," said Elphi coach Jim Pringle.
The Elphi team has seven members this year and generally sends four players to travel and compete. The team is made up of two Grade 12s, one Grade 11, two Grade 10s, one Grade 9 and one Grade 8. The team includes Dylan Cappadocia, Coty Haikonen, Dustin Christmas, Cris Liddicoat, Jared Turner, Jesse Ostrosky and Leon Williams.
"It's a pretty young team, but it's nice to have the talent spread throughout," added Pringle. "That should make for a solid season this year and far next year. Dylan is our top golfer. He's in Grade 10 and he has by for the most competitive experience on the squad. Last year we missed the provincials by six shots in the city finals. This year our goal is to change that and make the provincials."
The provincial goal is also squarely on the mind of Chat coach Dean Totten.
Totten has a solid 10-man team this season loaded with experience.
The team has two Grade 12s, one Grade 11, five Grade 10s and two Grade 9s. The team includes: Rory Higdon, Spencer Lanskail, Cameron Dybwad, Chris Hamilton, Baillie Quinn, team captain, Sean Patton, Taylor Fancher, Danny Baker, Kaylon Quinn and Devon Haynes.
Chat started league play with an impressive 7-0 win over Mulgrave last Friday at Capilano in North Vancouver and followed that up with a win 7-0 over St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday.
"We've been going for about a month now fundraising and getting in as much practice time as we could," said Totten. "Against Mulgrave the boys played pretty well, but there is always room to improve."
This year Chat has been moved from AAA status to AA in the North Shore Secondary Schools Athletic Association.
"Last year we had a decent shot to compete against the AAA schools, but now that we're in AA, we should be much stronger," Totten added. "Our Grade 9 and 10 players are very strong. They're all buddies and they have a great relationship both on and off the course. When you have that strong chemistry, it can only make your team stronger."
Chat and Elphi will meet on Monday in their first Coastal league match in Roberts Creek.
