The pressure and the expectations didn’t faze the Caledonia High School boys golf team.
Loaded with the burden of being the reigning state champion and coming off a season of strong play, Caledonia entered the Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 4A State Championship with a bull’s eye squarely on its back. But thanks to solid play by medalist Hunter Logan and a strong supporting cast, Caledonia carded a two-day total of 653 last week to beat St. Stanislaus by 22 strokes to win its second-straight state title.
“The conditions were tough day two and the greens were tough both days, but our team and I all agreed to go shoot as best as we could,” said Logan, who shot a 74 and a 72 for a winning total of 146. “I just did the best I could for my team.”
Dylan Darling (85-83–168), Parker Humber (83-82–165), Davis Pool (91-84–175), and Caleb Comer (91-83–174) rounded out Caledonia’s team score and helped coach Bradley Tate earn his second title in 11 seasons as the school’s boys golf coach.
For its accomplishment, the Caledonia High boys golf team is The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
Also last week, the Caledonia High girls golf team took second at the Class II State Championship. Tate also coaches that squad.
Last season, Logan finished second with a 158. Darling (83-90–173) and Humber (92-87–179) also improved their scores to help the Confederates add to their trophy case. After suffering through the frustration of finishing behind St. Stanislaus, the players agreed it was satisfying to beat the school that won the 2014 and 2015 championships again.
Logan, who earned a 6-0, 6-2 victory in the Class 4A tennis championship Monday in Jackson, said he worked hard with his father, Colby, in the offseason to improve his game. He said his goal was to “take out the mistakes” he made last season. Logan said “safer play” helped him shave 12 shots off his game. He said he had to fight the temptation to attempt a riskier shot on both days.
“I know a couple of holes I played a little riskier than I should have and it didn’t pay off well,” Logan said. “The holes I played it safe it paid off with birdies. On day two on the back nine I played it safe on my second shot on No. 10 and I ended up making an eagle.”
Logan’s safer play was an added bonus for a team that played with confidence all season. Comer said the Confederates didn’t let the expectations of being the favorite weight them down. In fact, he said the team relished being the hunted and looked forward to the challenge of winning another title.
“We all knew what we had to do,” Humber said. “The first day it was hot and humid. The second day it was cold and rainy and windy. We have played in conditions like that since we were in the seventh grade.”
Caledonia trailed by seven shots after the first round prior to a four-shot penalty being assessed to a St. Stanislaus player. That player was disqualified the next day. As a result, St. Stanislaus had an even smaller margin of error. Even though they weren’t able to get timely updates from their teammates, Caledonia still had confidence, even if Humber thought he has “given it away” for his team being eight-over par at the turn.
However, Caledonia’s spirits lifted when they saw the scores of the other teams. From there, it was a matter of closing it out and finishing strong.
“It’s all a mind-set thing, too, because when you feel like people are out to get you that is when your head just fills up with air,” Darling said. “As long as you look like there is somebody out there that can still beat you every time you play, you’re never fully accomplished in your own mind. (I think we were able to keep that attitude) especially after the first day when we were getting beat and we brought it back the second day.”
Said Logan, “It’s a great feeling to have knowing all the work we put in in the offseason and this year all paid off with the results we wanted.”
Tate, who was named the Mississippi Association of Coaches Golf Coach of the Year, said the boys relied on their confidence to carry them through the season. He said he tried to make this season a little more fun than he has had in past years. As a result, every player received a nickname, either from him or the other players, and Tate said he started to listen to the music his players listened to, even though he said he “hated it.” The moves paid off, though, as did a tough regular-season schedule Tate felt prepared the boys for the postseason.
“I put that team together when the majority of them were in the sixth grade and the seventh grade,” said Tate, who is having tryouts today for the 2017-18 team. “Then we had Hunter Logan move in, and that was a blessing. … We have a big pile of 10th-graders, so to be good in golf in Mississippi you have to have a feeder program. I don’t have an assistant coach, so the younger I can get them the better.”
Caledonia will lose Darling and Humber, who will play golf at Itawamba Community College in Fulton. Comer also will go to ICC to play kicker on the football team. He said he might try to walk on to the ICC men’s golf team.
The Caledonia High girls entered the Class II State Championship as the No. 1 seed for the first time. Avery Pool and Claudia Garcia, who are juniors, and Evana Baggett, who is a freshman, acknowledged they felt the weight of being one of the top teams. But they agreed they shook off a tough first day and played a solid second day to finish with a 342. Germantown won the title with a 324.
“There was some added pressure (with being the No. 1 seed) that we were not prepared for,” said Pool, who shot an 86 and a 79 for a 165. “The weather was pretty bad Sunday, so we didn’t get a practice round. The first day wasn’t like we had hoped, but the second day we came back and had two solid rounds. It was a lot better.”
Pool said it was pleasing to rebound on the second day to shoot rounds that were more like the rounds they had shot all season. Garcia, who shot a 95 and an 82 (177), said she is “pretty chill,” so she tried not to think about the fact she was a member of the top-seeded team. She knew it would get in her head if she thought too much about it. Garcia was happy to rebound from going into the water multiple times and getting an 11, which she said ruined her first-day score. She said played it safer on the second day to improve her final tally.
Baggett, who carded a 108 and a 110, said things didn’t go as the team planned, but she is excited about a chance to play for a state title. With all three players set to return next season, all three want to continue to improve their individual games. Garcia said she wants to improve on her driving. Baggett said she wants to improve her chipping. Pool said she wants to improve her mental game.
With the second-place trophy sitting in front of them, the players said they intend to work hard on their games so they have another chance to win a championship next season.
“Just knowing we can do it and not letting the pressure and the stress of being good get to us (is going to be important),” Pool said.
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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