SNOQUALMIE – The Mount Si boys golf team is looking to be a force in the Kingco 3A Conference this fall despite the loss of several players from last year’s team. Helping the team become that force will be some players with impressive résumés that have come to play this fall.

The team is coached by seventh-year head coach Garrick Phillips, who also serves as the head boys basketball coach during the winter. Among the top returning golfers this year is sophomore Jon Larson, who competed on the Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) tour this summer. Also among those returning this year are seniors Beau Davis and Zach Tachel, and junior Tanner Ostby. Leading the top newcomers this season is freshman Mike Rutledge, who, like Larson, also participated in the WJGA tour this summer.

Mount Si hopes that the success of their boys golf team from a few years ago will rub off on this current group of players. One of the major forces behind that run is assisting the team this season.

“[We’re] getting some help this year from Brandon Proudfoot, who is one of the assistant pros here at the [Mount Si] golf course, and played for me a few years ago. He finished second at state on a great golf team and he’s going to be a big help,” said Phillips.

Tachel is looking for success on multiple levels.

“I hope I can shoot lower scores than last year, and hopefully the freshmen can shoot pretty good, too,” he said.

Phillips said that the number of players who turned out to play this year, 24, was average. It appeared that the new $75 athletics fee for Mount Si High School has not impacted the golf program, Phillips said. Phillips also stressed the fee should be a doable proposition for all families, regardless of income.

“I haven’t noticed that it had an impact on it [the turnout]. I think there’s some programs going on through the district and through the school if we have any kids that can’t afford that. The last thing we want is for that to be a limiting factor as far as turnouts,” he said.

Phillips said he looks for Mercer Island, Bellevue and Newport to field strong teams this fall.

Tachel, who has played golf a long time, plays out of the Carnation Golf Course, so for him Mount Si Golf Course is a different experience.

“This course is kind of more challenging, but kind of not. There’s more trees and narrower fairways,” Tachel said.

The main thing Phillips is looking for from his golfers is attention to the emotional and mental side of the game.

“A lot of these kids have a lot of tools, but their mental approach to the game and their emotional approach to the game is something that’s lacking, and something that we can help them with a lot,” he said.