Bulldogs look to defend state golf title

By Wynrick Smothers

UCA Sportswriting

St. Joseph's boys golf team is getting set for another run at a state championship Tuesday at the Conway Country Club.

Around 30 schools will be represented but only 12 will compete for the Class 2A state title. St. Joseph golf Coach Chris Kordsmeier knows there will be some stiff competition heading into the tournament.

“Cedar Ridge and Buffalo Island Central will be tough opponents,” he said. “They both had good team scores coming into the tournament, and so did Spring Hill, which will be another good opponent.”

As Kordsmeier said, Conway Country Club is not an easy course to play. Although the course may not be a cakewalk, he is confident in his team’s ability to play well.

“Our kids have played on this course before with their families, so them being familiar with the course may help a bit," he said. "It’s also a game of golf, which means anything can happen on any given day.”

St. Joseph has its anchor player on the team once again in senior Landon Enderlin, who has plenty of experience in this tournament. He claimed the championship both his freshman and sophomore years and was the state runner-up last year.

Kordsmeier knows a lot will be going on in the players’ heads, but he said he felt whoever is able to keep their cool during the tournament will prevail.

“There will be a lot of nerves out there,” he said. “It will come down to whoever is patient while playing and doesn’t freak out; that will be who is successful.”

The field will also include Bigelow, Cedar Ridge, Buffalo Island Central, Magnet Cove, Gurdon, Parker’s Chapel, Spring Hill, Marked Tree, Mountainburg, East Poinsett County and Hackett.

The top three individuals from every classification will qualify for the Arkansas High School Overall Championship, which will be at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Little Rock next week.

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