Love for the game: Mount Si boys golf reloads with top-end skill depth

Published 11:21 am Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Earbuds playing country music, junior Alex Nelson winds up on the driving range at Mount Si Golf Course and lets fly.

The junior was with his team, getting in some hits before hitting the road for their Sno Falls match with a group of arriving Issaquah golfers. Nelson, with his state tournament experience—he placed 18th last spring—looks to lead a fairly deep group of Mount Si boys on the autumn fairways.

“We have a strong team this year,” Nelson said. “I’m excited.”

“We’re as deep as any of the other teams in the league, said coach Brandon Proudfoot.

This year, Mount Si will be stronger at the top end of its roster, and has a big freshman group to develop. A group of four to six strong players will revolve in the top spots.

“This is what we’re looking for in a good golf squad,” Proudfoot said. “That leaves us better for postseason.”

“The biggest struggle with 4A is we’re traveling to a whole new set of courses,” the coach added.  Normally, only newcomers get the novel experience of learning a new course. Now, even the veterans get that experience.

“This year, we’re going to a couple of courses no one’s ever seen before,” like the Plateau Club or Newcastle.

Nelson and junior Jimmy Jacobsen are the two most tournament-experienced golfers, both playing in the offseason. Senior returner Joe Steenvorde also has a lot of play under his belt.

There’s a couple of promising sophomores to watch, like Peter Yoshikawa. Gavin Gorrell, a sophomore, could end up being one of the spirited hearts of the squad.

Junior Mitchell Dover is another one to watch. He went from rough to great in the few weeks before practice, and shot the lowest score in team play, a 37, the day before school began, in a downpour.

“I double-bogeyed the first hole, and then just settled down, making some pars. I had some big putts,” he explained.

“I play golf pretty much all the time, when it’s not baseball season,” Dover said. “Just try to play every varsity match, and letter,” are his goals.

“I’m just trying to remember that it’s all a game,” says Nelson, who has been working with a swing coach, Gregg Rogers’ Golf Performance of Bellevue, on fundamentals and the mental side.

Nelson embraces the energies of the game. He reminds himself that it’s good that the game can have an emotional impact.

“It’s cool that I’m out here,” he says. “It helps me just have fun.”

You can follow Mount Si golf at www.kingcogolf.com.

Mitch Dover is shaping up to be a major player on the roster

Peter Yoshikawa and Gavin Gorrell will be among the more spirited players of the boys squad.

Mount Si boys golf schedule

Thursday, Sept. 11

• Mount Si vs. Skyline at the Plateau Club, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 16

• Mount Si hosts Woodinville, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

• Mount Si vs. Newport at Newcastle, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 23

• Mt Si hosts Juanita, 3 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 25

• Mount Si hosts Bothell, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 30

• Mount Si vs. Redmond at Bear Creek Golf and Country Club, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 1

• Mount Si hosts Eastlake, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

• Kingco 4A tournament, 8 a.m. at Snohomish Golf Course