DARLINGTON - During 28 years as a Lafayette County Sheriff's Department patrol sergeant Darlington boys golf coach Jim Poss always envisioned a chance at coaching.
After finally retiring from the department, Poss couldn't wait to start the season.
"I decided I love golf, I love kids and I love teaching," Poss said about his decision to coach golf. "Like my wife said, 'It was a no-brainer.' I have been looking forward to it."
Despite a blustery wind and pesky rain that made chipping out of sand traps an adventure, Darlington defeated Pecatonica-Argyle in a landslide 169-239 Monday at the Darlington Country Club.
"I told them before the match that they had to beat the girls best score," Poss said, which the Redbirds set last fall at 169. "I'm very pleased with how they played especially with the rain. Just hanging on to the club was a good thing."
Darlington junior Bryan Reichling shot a 3-over-par-38 to lead the Redbirds. Reichling racked up six pars and had three bogeys.
"That's solid golf," Poss said.
Darlington sophomore Zach McArthur shot a 5-over-40 and senior Lucas Bergenson had a 45. Freshman Alex Schulte shot a 46 in his first varsity match and birdied No. 9.
McArthur birdied No. 3 and senior Mark Brugger shot a 53.
"They have to realize that every round they will have bad shots and holes," Poss said. "If they can hit 80 percent and keep it in the fairway, that is where they will score."
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Sean Shilling shot a 54 to lead the Orioles. Shilling, like a couple of golfers, struggled navigating the sand trap on No. 3.
Brugger also took an extra shot in the hazard on No. 3. Poss understands that young golfers want to avoid trouble at all costs. Working their way out of trouble can be a challenge.
"They think the sand trap is a death sentence," he said.
Pecatonica-Argyle's Brandon Watkins shot a 60 and Bryan Johnson had a 61. Collin Wilde carded a 64. The Redbirds junior-varsity team shot a 209 and Pecatonica-Argyle had just one junior-varsity golfer.
"If they keep shooting like that, we could be at the top," Poss said of the Redbirds who won the SWAL last year, but lost six seniors. "My main goal is to make them better golfers. If I can make them better golfers, everything else will fall into place. My goal is to compete and let the chips fall where they may."
After finally retiring from the department, Poss couldn't wait to start the season.
"I decided I love golf, I love kids and I love teaching," Poss said about his decision to coach golf. "Like my wife said, 'It was a no-brainer.' I have been looking forward to it."
Despite a blustery wind and pesky rain that made chipping out of sand traps an adventure, Darlington defeated Pecatonica-Argyle in a landslide 169-239 Monday at the Darlington Country Club.
"I told them before the match that they had to beat the girls best score," Poss said, which the Redbirds set last fall at 169. "I'm very pleased with how they played especially with the rain. Just hanging on to the club was a good thing."
Darlington junior Bryan Reichling shot a 3-over-par-38 to lead the Redbirds. Reichling racked up six pars and had three bogeys.
"That's solid golf," Poss said.
Darlington sophomore Zach McArthur shot a 5-over-40 and senior Lucas Bergenson had a 45. Freshman Alex Schulte shot a 46 in his first varsity match and birdied No. 9.
McArthur birdied No. 3 and senior Mark Brugger shot a 53.
"They have to realize that every round they will have bad shots and holes," Poss said. "If they can hit 80 percent and keep it in the fairway, that is where they will score."
Pecatonica-Argyle sophomore Sean Shilling shot a 54 to lead the Orioles. Shilling, like a couple of golfers, struggled navigating the sand trap on No. 3.
Brugger also took an extra shot in the hazard on No. 3. Poss understands that young golfers want to avoid trouble at all costs. Working their way out of trouble can be a challenge.
"They think the sand trap is a death sentence," he said.
Pecatonica-Argyle's Brandon Watkins shot a 60 and Bryan Johnson had a 61. Collin Wilde carded a 64. The Redbirds junior-varsity team shot a 209 and Pecatonica-Argyle had just one junior-varsity golfer.
"If they keep shooting like that, we could be at the top," Poss said of the Redbirds who won the SWAL last year, but lost six seniors. "My main goal is to make them better golfers. If I can make them better golfers, everything else will fall into place. My goal is to compete and let the chips fall where they may."
