Quincy boys golfers looking to learn, improve

QUINCY — Coach Chris Trevino said the Quincy boys golf team will be a work in progress in 2024. 

“We’ve got a couple of guys that I think are going to be pretty good for us, and we’re just trying to build out the next two guys to post a team score,” he said.

Six players make up a high school varsity team, with the top four individual scores counting for the team score. Quincy has nine players out for golf, but Trevino said 2024 fits into a pattern that’s been going on in Quincy for a while.

“Many of them are just starting to learn the game. Some of our players have never held a golf club before, don’t know the rules,” he said. “So there’s certainly a big variance in skill level. And in Quincy we embrace them all. The goal, I think, is to try to grow the game of golf.”

The Jacks return four golfers, Trevino said.

“The other five have never played the game before,” he said.

Junior Jaxon Ferguson will be one of the team leaders, Trevino said. 

“I think he was an alternate last year to the state tournament, and I’m hoping that we can get him qualified this year, which I think is a good goal for him,” he said.

Freshman Boden Highfill also is showing promise in the first weeks of practice.

“He’s impressed me so far, and I certainly believe that he and Jaxson will be pushing each other all year long,” Trevino said. “I’m excited for what Boden brings — to get a kid like that, and to be able to work with him the next four years. I think it’s going to be pretty exciting.”

Mitchell Main returns for his senior season.

“Mitch will probably be on the varsity team and producing scores for us,” Trevino said.

Most of the rest of the team is new to the sport. 

“We’ve got three seniors who have never played before, and just want to learn the game of golf,” he said.

Trevino coached the golf team for about 10 years before giving up the job at the end of the 2022 season. He was asked to come back in 2024 after his successor moved on, he said. Working with new players is a positive experience, he said.

“It’s certainly a challenge, but I think it’s a challenge I really enjoy,” he said. “In the end, you want to be able to grow the game. You want to expose new people to the game. I think one of the greatest things about golf is that it’s a game you can play for the rest of your life and still be competitive.”

Coaching new players requires attention to detail. 

“You build swings from the ground up. You work chipping and putting, you work the short game, you kind of allow them to swing (the club) the way they swing it a little bit, and then you’re making minor tweaks and trying to get them to hit the ball well,” he said.

He’s encouraged by what he’s seen in his new players, he said. 

“I’m super-excited about the progress they’ve made over the 10 days of practice we’ve had,” Trevino said. “They’re great listeners, they’re intrigued by the game, they want to learn the game. Anybody who is craving getting better is welcome on my team.”

Quincy’s first match is against Okanogan on March 21 at the QHS home course, Colockum Ridge.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com

    Quincy coach Chris Trevino said Boden Highfill, pictured, should be a contributor for the Quincy boys golf team in 2024.
  

    The Quincy boys golf team is looking to integrate five new players into the team. The QHS home course, Colockum Ridge, is pictured.