The Iola golf team entered this season’s Buck Quincy Invitational with a completely different mindset from previous years.
And that is not necessarily a bad thing.
The past couple of years, the Mustangs have rolled into their only home tournament of the season with a focus on winning league and going to the state tournament.
This group is focused on continually improving each and every time they step on the links.
“I couldn’t ask for better teammates,” Iola golfer Gage Tomlinson said. “They are probably the most fun, if not the funniest players I’ve ever played with. We are improving greatly.”
Monday was another major step in the right direction for the young herd of Mustangs.
Iola Coach Doug Kerr says the 2016 version of Mustang golf has been a fun one to work with.
“You look for different positives,” Kerr said. “The last couple of years we were right in the money every week. This group of kids, they work hard and they are really coachable. Right now, we are just working on cutting down those rookie mistakes.”
Each tournament, the young group continues to improve. Several players cut double-digit strokes from their totals in the last tournament they competed.
The key to that success has been the collective attitude the team has adopted this season. Without any returning varsity experience, each member of the team focuses not only on their individual improvement but of his or her teammates as well.
“It has been really fun,” Iola golfer Chloe Hageman said. “Watching us all lose strokes is a fun thing to watch… (Kerr) has helped us with a lot of shots… He has benefited us a lot.”
The Mustangs took sixth place as a team on Monday overall, but out of the four Pioneer League teams vying for the league title, Iola finished in second.
“I’m really proud of them,” Kerr said. “Anytime you can finish top 10 in league is a good accomplishment and the good thing is next year we have everyone back.”
The Mustangs were 12 shots behind Santa Fe Trail, who won league by shooting a 396.
Individually, Iola was led by Gage Tomlison, who placed 26th at the tournament with a 96. His score earned him ninth-place among Pioneer League participants.
“It is one of the best feelings I’ve had in a while,” Tomlinson said. “I know this course better than any other course.”
