MOUNT VERNON — Even with the loss of three of its top players from last year’s squad, the Mount Vernon golf team is still looking for big things this year.
Four seniors and a large group of talented underclassmen has coach Mike Fuller still thinking high.
“With losing T.T. (Crouch) and Charlie (Phillips) the last couple of years, people will probably think we’ll be down. But I have confidence in the kids. We’ll be competitive,” Fuller said. “Mount Vernon golf has a strong tradition the last 30 or so years. These guys want to uphold that tradition.”
Fuller will be counting on four seniors to help lead the way. Matt O’Hara, Cole McDonough and Dom DiGuilio all saw a good bit of time with the varsity squad last year, and Will O’Hara was right there on the cusp.
“I’m looking for a lot of leadership from those guys,” Fuller said. “There’s experience there. It’s their turn to shine. They’ve all played a lot of golf this summer. I think they’re ready.”
With no juniors on the squad, Fuller will have to lean on some talented underclassmen to fill in the final holes on the squad. Sophomores Chase Springer and Justin Fairchild, along with freshmen Adam O’Hara, Robert Williams and Luke Ernest, are expected to fight it out for the final couple of varsity spots.
“We’ve got some good young kids,” Fuller said. “I’ve been pretty impressed so far.”
With the loss of all-state golfer Charlie Phillips, as well as Brody Harwell and Aaron O’Hara, there are definitely some big Foot Joys to fill for Mount Vernon. But Fuller thinks that the balance this year’s squad has will keep them in the hunt.
