It's a good problem to have.
In preseason golf practice, the Helias Crusaders have had five players average within 1.5 strokes of each other. Now it's a matter of getting them all to improve a little more.
"We're not playing our best," Helias coach Dan Campbell said as the Crusaders prepared for this afternoon's season-opening triangular against Camdenton and Hickman at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club. "We're in the mid-40s and we need to get that into the low 40s or even lower than that. We've got a good grouping, we just need that grouping to be a little lower.
"We're doing all right. We're starting to figure some things out."
Matt Branch, the lone senior on the team, enters the season in the No. 1 spot.
"He put together some really good rounds last year and I think he can do the same thing this year," Campbell said.
Clinton Campbell, Helias' only other returning letterwinner, also figures to hold down a varsity spot.
Others Crusaders who are bidding for spots on the varsity include Curtis Campbell, Jack Rundle, Cole Higgins and Dalton Roark.
"On any given day, any of them could get into the high 70s or low 80s," Dan Campbell said. "If we could get the group of them to that point, that would give us a great chance to win some matches."
But that is down the road. The Crusaders are still working through some kinks in their games.
"Everybody is inconsistent right now, but that's to be expected," Campbell said.
That inconsistency really shows up in the short game.
"We have a lot of kids losing strokes around the green," Campbell said. "But the touch around the greens always seems to be the last thing to come around."
The Crusaders have spent time during the preseason working on knowing the rules. Making the proper ruling could save a stroke here or there throughout the round.
"I saw some things last year I didn't like where the kids didn't know the rule and it cost them a shot," Campbell said. "If you know the rules and you know your options against somebody who doesn't, it can make a difference."
Helias is scheduled to play its district tournament at Eldon Country Club.
"That can be a challenging golf course," Campbell said. "We've got a couple of events down there during the season to get a look at it."
Last year, the Crusaders qualified all five of its individuals out of districts to get to the sectional. But none made it to the state tournament.
"We want to go to state as a team, but we really want to get at least a couple of guys there this year," Campbell said.
Action is scheduled to begin today at 1:30 p.m.