In the often uncertain world of high school sports, one team that seems assured of success this year is the Redmond High boys’ golf team. Since taking over in 2006, Redmond head golf coach Chris Zimmerman has compiled a record of 20-1 and has worked with many of this year’s players since they were sophomores.

“We look great,” said Zimmerman, who has been an assistant golf pro at Woodinville’s Bear Creek Country Club for the past seven years. “Since I’ve been here this is probably the deepest team I’ve had talent-wise. We’re solid, and we’re going to have a lot of competition just to see who’s going to play in the varsity matches each week, because it could be any of the 12 guys.

Leading the pack will be senior team captain Alex Mroz, who medaled at the PNGA Junior Championships this August, shooting 7-under-par for two rounds at Mill Creek Country Club.

“Mroz is my best player,” said Zimmerman. “There are a lot of big names on that trophy from years past, so he had a great summer playing junior golf. I look for him to be our number one scoring average guy.”

In that same tournament, Mroz’s teammate, senior Alex Abbruzza, reached the semifinals of the match-play portion of the event, finishing in the top four out of about 80 of the top junior golfers from Washington, Oregon and Canada.

Zimmerman’s top newcomer for the 2008 campaign is senior Oscar Santamarina, who moved to the Redmond area from Venezuela only three weeks ago. During his short time here, he has greatly impressed Zimmerman with his ball-striking ability

“He’s got a great swing,” Zimmerman said. “He’s still getting used to the greens in the Northwest, it’s a lot different than playing in Venezuela, but he hits the ball probably better than anyone on the team. He’s just solid.”

The third-year coach said he hopes three or hopefully four players advance to the Class 4A state tournament in the spring. The Mustangs’ other goal is to win another 4A Kingco title. In order to do so, Redmond will have to win a closely-contested battle among golf powerhouses Woodinville and Eastlake.

And while his .952 winning percentage is nothing to slouch at, Zimmerman realizes it might be now or never for his team, as he will be graduating a slew of seniors at the end of the season. Until then, the bar is set very high for the Mustang golf program, and the coach would have it no other way.

“It is (difficult)… The parents come to expect it, and the guys do too,” said Zimmerman of his team’s reputation for winning. “I like having the expectations high though. I think the guys respond really well under that kind of pressure, so it’s good for us.”