Malta golf team weathers slow start

The Malta Golf team has 17 members in 2019, which is only one less than last year's group, but the team has retained plenty of youth both new and returning.

"We have good numbers out for golf this year," Malta Head Coach Travis Somerfeld said. "We have a total of 17 golfers 11 boys and six girls. Of those 17 golfers, eight of them played last year."

Though the numbers are on Malta's side, the starting four for both the Mustangs and M-ettes have yet to be determined.

"We are still a very inexperienced golf team," Coach Somerfeld said. "A lot of our golfers are picking up clubs for the very first time. However, they have been working hard and slowly learning the game of golf."

Of the returning boys, only Grayson Waters made state last season.

"Grayson is a pretty good overall golfer," Coach Somerfeld said. "He does everything really well."

Though Waters has proven to be among the best in the state, coach Somerfeld knows that there is room for improvement.

"Things he needs to work on is controlling his drive and putting," Coach Somerfeld said. "We shore those things up Grayson will have a great year."

The team also welcomes back Ezra Judd and Hayden VanWichen, who were members of Malta's varsity team last season.

"Both of them played key roles on the varsity team a year ago," Coach Somerfeld said. "If we get both of them to do a little fine tuning, they will be key contributors this year for the Mustangs."

Marks and Camryn Messerly were key contributors on the girls' side of the team. Marks returns as a State performer from the 2017 season, an event that she hopes to return to in 2019.

"Kloie is a solid golfer who works hard to perfect her game," Coach Somerfeld said. "She pays close attention to details which are really important when it comes to golf. We are working to shorten her swing up a little to make her swing a little bit more consistent. She has a really good first three weeks of golf and we expect big things from her this year "

Messerly received high praise from her coach as the team's most improved golfer in 2018.

"Camryn brings a positive attitude to practice every day and strives to become better," Coach somerfeld said. "I feel if Camryn continues to work hard she will have a breakthrough season for the M-ettes."

The numbers bode well for Malta, but as far as the varsity lineup goes, the teams will need at least one brand new untested member.

"Both on the boys and girls side there is going to be a lot of competition to crack the varsity teams," Coach Somerfeld said. "At this moment it is hard to say which one of our younger golfers will make those teams. It will be good to have competition on both sides."

With the team only beginning to see the course last week due to snow and or the melt, the ability to test the team's playing skills have been challenging if not impossible.

"Golf has been hard these last two years with the springs we had," Coach Somerfeld said. "There is only so much that you can do as a golf team inside. This year we have the kids hitting into nets and working out every other day. Its been good keeping them active. However, we are ready to get outside."

The team's first two meets have been canceled which further complicates the season, but it goes in line with the team's inability to practice at Marian Hills Golf Course.

"So our first two meets, Shelby and Conrad have been canceled, which isn't necessarily a bad thing since we have not been able to get out to the course yet," Coach Somerfeld said. "Most likely our first meet will be in Wolf Point on Thursday, April 18. This will be an important meet for us since this is where divisional golf is."

As far as goals go for the Malta Golf Team, the crew has only set one goal per squad.

"We really haven't set many goals this year," Coach Somerfeld said. "I think our two biggest goals as a team are to get both the boys and girls teams to qualify for state."

The Malta Invitational is set got Saturday, April 27, at Marian Hills Golf Course.