BOWLING GREEN – Jim Scharer was not looking forward to Tuesday’s sectional golf tournament.
Not because he thought his team couldn’t compete – just the opposite, in fact – but because he knew it would be the last time he coached his senior class.
The 2018 Little Giant boys golf team. Photos courtesy of Michelle White
While the Little Giants missed out on their goal of breaking 400 as a team – they shot 412 placing them 11th out of 14 teams – that disappointment paled in comparison to having to say goodbye to seniors Cole Druckenmiller, Mike Keegan, Luke O’Brien, Zane Rusch and Braxton White.
“You talk to some coaches and they couldn’t wait for the season to get over and I’ll tell you right now, I’ve really been dreading this day because of how much I’ve enjoyed spending time with those kids for the last two, three, four years,” Scharer said. “I’ve coached varsity sports probably for about 24 years and this was as fine a group of young men as I’ve ever come across. It was an absolute delight to coach them. I’m really going to miss them.”
The Little Giants’ final round of the season saw White lead with a score of 93. O’Brien followed with a 100 while Rusch shot 107 and Druckenmiller carded a 112.
Having played Stone Ridge Golf Course several times already this year, Scharer noted the success Ross would have enjoyed if the Little Giants could have strung their personal-best rounds together.
“Zane shot 94 just two weeks ago at the league tournament there, and he shot 107 today,” Scharer said. “Braxton shot 116 last week, shot 93 today. Cole, early in the year shot 95, shoots 112 today. We never quite put it together. If all the kids shoot their best round, we produce a 382.”
But long after the scores and tournaments fade from memory, Scharer will not forget this group of Little Giants anytime soon.
“I never had to worry about any of them in classroom,” he said. “I never had to worry about any of them with discipline problems. If I asked them to be on time, they were always on time. They were like sponges for knowledge and they always were polite and cheering.
“It’s just a fine group of young men, which is a credit to their parents. I had great support from the parents. It’s been a real privilege.”
Though he’s losing his five seniors, the cupboard won’t exactly be bare when August rolls around in 2019.
Braden Ward will return as a senior whose 103 scored for Ross at the league meet. Scharer believes sophomores Tom Neill and Alex Garza can improve dramatically with a dedicated offseason, and this year’s five freshmen – Scout Mosser, Gabe Ontiveros, Owen Wright, Marcus Overmyer and Brody Abdoo – give their coach optimism about the future.
“If these underclassmen truly want to, they can be out (playing) until November and then get on (the course) in May or late April next year,” Scharer said. “There is a lot of time for us to play a lot of golf. For us to be competitive to where we want to be, a lot of it is on them. I hope they take that challenge and spend a lot of time with the game.”
In addition to wanting his younger golfers to improve their games, Scharer wants them to emulate the example set by the seniors.
“Our guys leaving the program have set a great example for the underclassmen. They’ve been a benchmark as far as what the kids can look to as far as representing Fremont Ross, representing their families and their community at the highest level possible.
“I hope, I really hope, my underclassmen were taking notes.”