BY JIM MISUNAS
The coronavirus has shut down virtually every spring activity except golf.
The Kansas State High School Activities Association canceled the spring golf season, but Great Bend’s golfers continue to hone their skill on their own while executing social distancing.
Two-time Panther state qualifier Cole Streck believes his game is farther along because he’s invested time and energy since online schooling has replaced regular classes at Great Bend High School.
Streck sets aside time each day for classwork before working on facets of his game, primarily putting and driving. A golf cart at Great Bend’s Stoneridge Country Club is reserved for one player and golfers must avoid close contact with playing partners. Streck can complete nine holes in one hour.
“My goal is to improve every day I’m out there,” Streck said. “I practice parts of my game, but of course putting is very important and you always want to be sharp off the tee. If there’s some phase that’s not good enough, I try to get that fixed.”
The biggest drawback is there’s no venue to compete in a “tournament” format.
“There are days when I simulate a ‘tournament day,’ and that’s when I’m serious about posting a legitimate score. I’m making a lot of progress. I’m getting more practice time in without a full school day.”
Great Bend was on target for back-to-back state tournament trips. Two-time state qualifiers Streck (19th, 35th) and Brantley Baldwin (32nd, 80th) would’ve returned with state qualifiers Scott Heilman (87th), Cal Dunekack (89th), Jayson Effertz (90th) and Cayden Bouse (93rd) from a 12th-place state finisher (346) at Dodge City’s Mariah Hills Golf Course.
Streck and Brantley provided a one-two scoring punch to go with four returning state qualifiers (355) who will all return in 2021. Streck, Baldwin, Effertz and Dunekack will be seniors next year and Heilman and Bouse will be juniors.
“It’s tough that we could not play this spring,” Streck said. “I plan to compete in the Kansas Golf Association tournaments and play as much tournament golf as I can.”
Great Bend coach Travis McAtee said it was disheartening when the season was canceled. McAtee saw potential to compete with Garden City for the Western Athletic Conference title as well as qualify for 5A state golf for the second consecutive year.
“We would’ve improved from last year and it was potentially our best year in quite some time,” McAtee said. “We were excited because we had promise of a fun spring season. We had players who would’ve contended for WAC honors. We would’ve compete against Garden City.”
McAtee said the golfers are lucky to continue to practice their game.
“It’s a challenge to work on an outdoor activity, but golf is perfect because the guys can still get out and compete,” he said.
The players and coach make occasional contact through a google classroom app. McAtee encourages his players to work on refining their game.
“They report scores and play one round each week in a tournament format for some scoring accountability,” he said. “We lost a golf season. But the players are still working to improve their games. I’m hoping they are all better golfers than last year. I want them to think better and manage their game better.”
McAtee said Great Bend’s postseason would’ve set up perfectly with the 5A regional (McPherson, Turkey Creek) and 5A state meet (Newton, Sand Creek Station) scheduled at familiar golf course.
McAtee said structuring his science classroom work at Great Bend has proved to be a daily challenge. McAtee introduces chapters and subjects, which students access through google online apps.
Students watch videos, take notes and try quizzes, all online. Generally, high school students are expected to invest about three hours each day in schoolwork.
“Students and teachers are learning to be flexible,” McAtee said. “Every day is different.”
