It’s tee-time for the joint North Kitsap High School and Kingston High School women’s golf team.
The team, comprised of 11 athletes, welcomes back letter winners sophomore Kyla Miedema and juniors Hayleigh Wuensch, Megan Mitchell, Lindsay Sheridan and Helen Wytko.
Both Wuensch and Mitchell advanced to the second day of the district tournament last year, an accomplishment head coach Jay DeVries hopes will be repeated.
“I expect that to be the minimum for both of them (Wuensch and Mitchell) this year,” he said.
The remainder of the team is fleshed out with newcomers:juniors Brittany McKenzie and Emily Kelleigh; sophomores Elle Sander and Erika Bratlien; and freshmen Katlyn Struxness and MacKenzie Clark.
For the entire team DeVries has a very simple focus in mind.
“My ultimate goal for the girls this year is to learn the game and to inspire them to play golf outside of golf season,” DeVries said. “I think, especially with kids just beginning the most important part is learning the game.”
He envisions the golfers completing a nine-hole course in less than two-and-a-half hours, knowing when they’re allowed to move or touch the ball and understanding how to manage a game.
In order to achieve those goals, which DeVries said the team usually does by the last week of practice, the ladies hit the course Monday through Friday for two to three-and-a-half hours.
The team has six home matches scheduled and DeVrie said competing against Olympic is always an afternoon to look forward to.
“We’ve never lost to them and we’re very similar every year as far as talent goes,” DeVrie said.
The golfing gals meet Olympic twice this year, once at home and once on the road.
Unlike most sports, DeVrie said his “nice group of girls,” don’t worry too much about records and winning and losing, but just enjoy being outside learning the game.
“I guarantee you after every match the girls like to know the score and if we won or lost, but they don’t go home and hold on to it. I don’t think that’s why they’re out here,” DeVrie said. “It’s a social game, which is why the girls like it so well. I know each of them has a good time.”
The ladies’ first match is tomorrow against Mt. Tahoma at Meadowpark at 3:15 p.m.
