Jays entering golf season with big goals

Nathan Erickson of Jefferson City watches his shot during the Capital City Invitational last year at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club.
Nathan Erickson of Jefferson City watches his shot during the Capital City Invitational last year at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club.

The goals are lofty.

And they're achievable, according to Jefferson City boys golf coach Randy Bickel.

"Win district, win sectional, finish in the top four at state," Bickel said as Jefferson City prepares to open the season today with a quadrangular at Waynesville. "We're scoring well, we're managing things pretty well on the course. We've put in the time, we're making progress."

Bickel believes his top three players - senior Austin Siebeneck and juniors Nathan Erickson and Brett Trowbridge - are poised to have good seasons.

"They are all really solid players," he said. "They all have the ability to post a low score every time they go out on the course."

It will be the third year on varsity for both Erickson and Trowbridge, and the second for Siebeneck.

The battle for the No. 4 and 5 spots on varsity is currently between senior Wilson Fischer, junior Burke Craighead, sophomore Michael Padberg and freshman Michael Davidson.

The Jays have 14 players on the roster this season. That's more than usual, but Bickel has the added help of new assistant coach Levi Elder. Elder played golf at Blair Oaks and Columbia College.

"We can divide the boys up, there are more eyes to watch what's going on," Bickel said. "I'm really excited to have him, Levi's a great young man who really knows the game.

"We can get more things done. Practices seemed to be a little more organized and we are getting more things done in a shorter amount of time."

One thing the coaches have been working with the players on is taking an extra few seconds to think before they make a shot.

"We just need to slow things down on the course, make the game a little simpler and play smarter," Bickel said.

Smarter means taking your medicine after a shot goes astray.

"We've been working hard on taking the path of least resistance, minimizing the damage after hitting a bad shot, which we all hit," Bickel said. "We're working on bogey being the worst score after you get in trouble, and in practice so far, we've been pretty successful at that. We've been scoring well, we're managing things pretty well.

"They know they have to hit the right club, be smart, to get out of trouble. We need to control the golf ball."

Another benefit of having Elder as an assistant is having the time to work with the younger, inexperienced players who aren't challenging for varsity or JV spots. Nine players on the roster are either freshmen or sophomores.

"It's a great group of boys who are making progress, they just need a little experience in competition," Bickel said. "They are going to be projects, but if they do what we ask and put the work in, they are going to be very good golfers."

The Jays are in five tournaments this season. In addition to hosting the Capital City Invitational, Jefferson City is in the Columbia Classic, the Smith-Cotton Classic, the Laker Invitational and the Helias Invitational.

Jefferson City has been moved to a different district. The Jays will open the postseason against Class 4 teams more from the south-central area of the state rather than Mid-Missouri. The tournament will be played at Fort Leonard Wood.

"I'm excited to get the chance to see some new teams," Bickel said.

The state tournament is scheduled for Twin Hills in Joplin.