Lopez golf returns a large, strong squad

April 21, 2023 1:30 am
Contributed photo Front Row: Valentina Rendon, Hannah Roberson, and Deston Dupuis, all 12th graders Second Row: Daniel Valencia, Mirabella Velo, Kaileah Poole, Naima Garcia, Amelia Patino, Melissa Valencia, Henry Robles, Josie Luckhurst-Slattery, Ruby Sausman, Abril Velazco, Eli Velazquez. Back Row: Isaac Gibson, Nonie Prout, Iris Ervin-McLean, Naeva Flora, Bryan Coro, Nathan Kinney, Kyle Kinney, Isaiah Washington, Zach Sanford. Missing are Vix Raya and Beau Spreine.
Contributed photo Front Row: Valentina Rendon, Hannah Roberson, and Deston Dupuis, all 12th graders Second Row: Daniel Valencia, Mirabella Velo, Kaileah Poole, Naima Garcia, Amelia Patino, Melissa Valencia, Henry Robles, Josie Luckhurst-Slattery, Ruby Sausman, Abril Velazco, Eli Velazquez. Back Row: Isaac Gibson, Nonie Prout, Iris Ervin-McLean, Naeva Flora, Bryan Coro, Nathan Kinney, Kyle Kinney, Isaiah Washington, Zach Sanford. Missing are Vix Raya and Beau Spreine.

By Richard Tetu

The 2023 Lobos golf team includes 15 women and 11 men, with three returning 12th graders and six 11th graders. Two of the women, Melissa Valencia and Mirabella Velo, hope to return to the state championship. Students have been practicing enthusiastically despite the weather. Thanks to the phenomenal support of the Lopez Island Golf Club, allied with the Lobo Pack plus individual donations of money and gear from generous individuals, we were able to equip everybody adequately. Players are particularly grateful for the many new lightweight bags; walking six or more miles with your equipment on your back will be a little easier.

With the support of Lopez Golf Club members, professional Steve Nightingale returned to lead four golf clinic sessions that our players and other Lopez youth enjoyed for free. This training will do much to send team members again to the State Championship, for which Lopez has qualified in each of the last 20 years (the pandemic hiatus aside). As always, the lack of a driving range limits us to short game practice, but the excellent condition of the Lopez course allows us to play under summer rules, making it easier to adapt to the courses on which team members will play when we reach post-season.