As has usually been the case in recent years, the St. James High boys’ golf team has a couple of state-qualifying golfers to build around this spring.

The Tiger golfers are scheduled to open the season by hosting Potosi in a dual meet Thursday, March 24 at the St. James Golf Course.

The Tigers are coming off an undefeated Four Rivers Conference championship and a second-place district tournament finish to advance as a full team to the Class 3 State Tournament last season.
St. James has won three conference championships, one district title and has had individuals or a full team at the state tournament every year in the past five seasons that Zane Garr has been coach of his alma mater.

And Garr is hopeful the beat goes on this spring.

“I feel like we’ll be pretty good,” said Garr. “But we are at a rebuilding stage. We have to transition ourselves a little better. We need our younger leaders to take the lead.”

Of last season’s full state-qualifying squad, returning for this spring are junior Eli Davis, last year’s No. 4 varsity player, and sophomore Daxton Weinbaum, who shared the No. 5 spot last year.
The Tigers have a large, young group. There are 16 players on the roster, including eight freshmen. The lone senior on the squad is Carlin Sybert.

Other players vying for spots on the varsity include freshman Noble Davis, junior Owen Spurgeon, junior Karsten Driskell, sophomore Skylar Mabrey and sophomore Dom Giacolone.

Gone from last season are state-qualifiers Isaiah Cairer and Jackson Marcee, who graduated, and Maddix Jones, who is not playing this season. Also gone is last year’s part-time No. 5 player Broc Lonning, who also graduated.

“There is varsity potential and some spots open,” Garr said. “I do believe the talent is there. Some of them haven’t even played golf, but it’s an athletic group.

“We could put up scores in the 170s to 180s, which would be good enough to win some matches. That’s kind of my goal early on.”

Garr feels eventually the Tigers could jell come district time.

“If we don’t go on as a team, I’d like to see Dax and Eli go as individuals,” Garr said of the state meet. “It is really big years for both to grow. And we need to find a way to get the kids focused from district to the state tournament.

“I’m excited when the golf season comes around. I’m interested to see how they grow. The potential is there.”

Here is the Tigers’ schedule:

March 24 - Potosi at St. James GC, 4 p.m.

March 30 - Union Tourney

March 31 - Hermann at St. James GC, 4 p.m.

April 2 - at Sullivan, Pacific

April 3 - Cuba at St. James GC, 4 p.m.

April 6 - at Sullivan, Owensville

April 9 - Salem Tourney

April 14 - at St. Clair, 4 p.m.

April 15 - St. James Tourney

April 20 - Waynesville Invitational

April 22 - Union at St. James GC, 4 p.m.

April 24 - Sullivan Invitational

April 27 - Cuba Tri

May 4 - Four Rivers Conference Tourney