With one senior and three freshmen in the top eight, as well as a sophomore playing as the team’s No. 1, there’s no denying the Pelham golf squad is young. Yet it presents an ideal scenario for Todd Kress.

The second-year golf coach said last season’s lot featured a solid group of seniors who were very much set in their ways. This year, he said, the players are excited to learn and improve their play.

“Last year they were good, but they were pretty much the same (talent-wise) all year. This year, we’re just going to get better and better. These guys are listening, and they’re passionate about working to get better,” said Kress. “I told them last year was a pass, I let them do what they wanted to do, and now it’s about winning.”

Though he’s taking a patient approach, recognizing the Pythons won’t compete for a state title this season, Kress said the team should be capable of a top five finish in 2009.

“We would like to think we’re (currently) a .500, competitive team, and we would like to think we’ve improved from last year,” said Kress. “The numbers are up. We’ve gone from 10 to 16 (athletes), so that’s a step in the right direction.”

Senior Grant Hebert is slotted as the team’s No. 3 behind junior Corey Couillard and Pelham’s top golfer, sophomore Jesse Vaiknoras.

“That gives us three consistent guys in the 36 to 40 (shots per nine holes) range,” said Kress. “If we can get those next couple guys around 43 – right now, they’re 45, 46 – and we can teach those guys to manage the course a little better, I really expect us to be around 205, 210 meet in and meet out.”

While junior Ryan Fyfe is a solid No. 4 for Pelham, freshmen Daniel Roberts and Trent Austin each have the opportunity to score in the top five on any given outing.

Those competing to fill the final two spots include senior brothers Everett and Nathan Paitchell, juniors Brett Austin, Jeffrey Caira and Stephen Jean, and freshman Alec Surprenant.

Kress said the freshmen were shooting in the low 50s when practice began. Two of the three have already lowered their handicap, each consistently carding scores in the mid 40s.

“They’re only going to get bigger and stronger. I mean, they hit it straight as an arrow, they just need to get a little more distance,” said Kress. “If Jesse and Corey can take the leadership in the offseason and get the guys playing in the summertime and getting memberships, I think next year will be a very good season for us.”

Kress, whose top accomplishments – including the 2006 Class I title – have come on the side of a basketball court, said he’s had to make adjustments as a coach, too.

“Sometimes you’ve got to realize (golf) is a mental game more than anything else, and if you think that kid’s head is not quite right, you can’t afford to put him out there because you can’t make a change,” said Kress. “You know, in other sports you can substitute. In this sport you throw your eight guys out there and hope they’re good for a day, but they really are on their own out there … You really can’t make halftime adjustments.”

That doesn’t mean the course doesn’t offer benefits foreign to the court.

“The thing that’s different about this sport, as opposed to other sports, is all you’ve got to do is be good on one day,” Kress continued. “You know, last year (at the state tournament) the 12th seed was Monadnock, and they finished third. You’ve just got to hope the course fits your team’s strengths and hope your guys show up on the day of the state meet.”