Talent up, scores down, on Pelham golf team

Salem Editor — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:03:00 GMT

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.”

They’re on course – Pelham’s improvement will continue with stability

Salem Editor — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:21:00 GMT

BY RYAN O'CONNOR

After leading his Pythons boys basketball squad to three consecutive state title games and taking home the 2006 Class I championship, Todd Kress decided he needed to spice things up by adding another personal challenge.

Pelham High School’s golf team presented just such an opportunity.

This year, Kress took over the squad and finished 10-15 on the season, not dissimilar from his first years as the Pythons’ head basketball coach a decade ago when his teams struggled to stay competitive, let alone win games.

“The two sports are different in just the mentality and obviously the different style of play,” Kress said of the dichotomy between the fast pace of basketball and the slow, sometimes grinding nature of golf.

“On the other hand,” added the coach, “I’d say as far as building the program, it’s very similar in that you just can’t have enough depth because when you have one of your key golfers not play well, you need someone to pick him up.”

That’s something Kress said he didn’t have this season but must establish to develop Pelham into a perennial contender on the links.

Jamie Vaiknoras, one of Kress’ varsity hoopsters, led the 2007 golf squad and shot even par twice during the season.

Andy St. Gelais, the team’s No. 2 golfer, averaged 39 throughout the year.

“They gave us some good senior leadership,” said Kress. “But I’m really excited about some of the underclassmen as well.”

Sophomore Cory Coulliard consistently turned in rounds near 40, and freshman Jesse Vaiknoras carded scores at or around 41 all season.

“I’m looking at the two of them next season to be our leaders,” said Kress. “Now the biggest things we need to look at to build a program is depth and establishing a winning attitude. With a little stability (at the coaching position), hopefully we can accomplish that.”

Rounding out the Pythons’ top eight golfers are Greg Frechette, Nate Paitchel, Russell Boland and Jon Wallace.

Pelham News : golf

Talent up, scores down, on Pelham golf team

They’re on course – Pelham’s improvement will continue with stability