The scoreboard may not have fully reflected the effort, but the Stanley-Boyd Orioles boys golf team took valuable steps forward Thursday, April 16, at Whitetail Golf Course in Colfax.
Carsen Woodcock led the Orioles with a 9-hole round of 40 (+5). Ryan Starck followed with a 44 (+9), while Derrick Lato finished with a 47 (+12). Dylan Lewallen and Draven Harris rounded out the Orioles lineup at Colfax with scores of 57 and 67 respectively.
Stanley Boyd varsity boys golf head coach Devon Wenndt said the conditions and circumstances made for a demanding day, but one that offered important lessons.
“Like is often the case, the numbers don’t tell the whole story,” he said. “We were down two of our regular varsity players and playing a golf course that will expose every aspect of your game if you are off by even a little bit.”
Despite the adversity, Wenndt was encouraged by the performance of his experienced players.
“I thought that the three everyday members of our varsity lineup played as expected,” he said.
Lato’s round, in particular, was impacted by a couple of costly moments.
“Derrick had a couple of unfortunate breaks: a penalty situation as well as a separate unplayable ball, which cost him three or four shots in total,” Wenndt noted.
For Lewallen and Harris, the round served as a learning opportunity on a course that demands precision.
“Dylan and Draven both reflected that they had learned quite a bit,” Wenndt said. “Several good shots to remember, and plenty of not so great ones to forget about.”
With lineup adjustments necessary, Wenndt emphasized the importance of developing depth within the program.
“Building depth is important, and I like to think of these playing opportunities as futures investments for the next time we have to bring somebody out of the bullpen,” he said.
The Orioles are expected to return to full strength soon, with Brenner Myers and Connor Goebel set to rejoin the lineup in the coming days — a timely boost with a busy stretch ahead.
“We’ll be getting Brenner and Connor back this week, and with three matches this week, I would say that the timing is good,” Wenndt said.
Even with the challenges at Whitetail, Wenndt remains confident in his team’s trajectory.
“All of our season goals are still in front of us, and our team’s mindset is healthy,” he said.
With three matches down and more to go, the Orioles play Whispering Pines Thursday, April 23. Match start time is 4:00 p.m.