Redmond High’s boys golf team is loaded with 16 golfers and they’re making an impact in 3A KingCo, after winning 4A KingCo in 2015.
Redmond is currently in first place with a 5-0 record. The team’s top performance was a 175-197 victory over Liberty. That 5-under score is the Mustangs’ best in recent history.
Coach Steve Wiebe is new at the helm with support from assistant Spencer Burnstead.
“I inherited a tremendously talented team. These kids love golf and it shows in their game and in their energy on the course,” Wiebe said.
Senior returner Michael Cummings said, “Winning KingCo last year was cool, but a few of our players had really strong summers and I think we’re even better and deeper than we were last year. We all want to back up what we did last year, and to improve upon that.”
Redmond returners are junior Sean Kato (tied for second at state last year), junior Connor Golembeski (state competitor last year), junior Evan Koessler, junior Dylan Howe, sophomore Carson Linville, sophomore Sebastian Rudnicki and senior Alex Cook. Newcomers are sophomore Alex Marshall and freshman Ryan Ho.
Wiebe noted that Kato is confident under pressure, Golembeski is calm and methodical, Linville has knocked three or four strokes off his game and Koessler is upbeat and playing even keel.
As for Cummings, he’s been hitting mammoth drives off the tee and even shot an “albatross,” a two on a par five during a practice round at the Bear Creek Country Club. His second shot was about a 200-yarder into the pin.
Even though golf is individual in nature, the team has strong chemistry.
“I’m excited every match to see which one of these boys is going to put up a low number. Against Liberty, Alex Marshall shot 3-under par and the entire team celebrated his moment,” Wiebe said.
Brian Hansford contributed to this report.