A change at the helm hasn’t altered the Fallon boys’ golf team’s goal this season.
With first-year coach Elaine Adams guiding the program after Rich Evans stepped down, the Greenwave is aiming to qualify for the state tournament after the team finished third with three seniors.
Senior Kelvin Cann returns for his fourth year on the team after recording Fallon’s best performance at last year’s state tournament to place sixth overall. Along with Cann, senior Chance Wood and junior Jace Harmon return with five years of combined experience at the varsity level. Wood placed 19th at state for Fallon, which finished second in the 3A North behind Spring Creek.
“He’s the most experienced golfer on the team,” Adams said of Cann, who was the low medalist in last week’s Hawthorne Icebreaker. “He played a lot over the summer and is a very consistent player. His goal is to be one of the top players from the north. He’s a very cerebral and experienced player.”
Fallon saw improvement during last year’s team but with only three returners, Adams is hopeful four new members will be ready to contribute. Freshmen Josiah Rosario, Nick Springfield, Jayden Wassmuth and Blake Gregerson are new to the team.
Along with qualifying to state as a team, Adams wants her returners to work on course management and is looking for consistency with the newcomers. Adams, who’s assisted by Phil Pinder, said local golf pro Marty Davis has helped with the younger golfers as well.
“All have great attitudes and are putting in the time it takes to improve and get better,” Adams said of the freshmen. “I’m looking to the experienced players to learn from them.”
“The team is hard working, eager to learn and coachable,” Adams said. “We need be consistent and continue to improve each week.”
Along with Cann, Adams looks forward to Wood having another strong year as a senior.
“He will be challenging Kelvin this year for the No. 1 spot,” Adams said. “He’s a very consistent player off the tee box and around the greens. I’m hoping he returns to the state tournament for his third time. He’s very helpful to the younger players.”
And Adam’s is also hopeful that Harmon can make to the state tournament for the second time.
“He’s looking to solidify his spot as the No. 3 golf on the team,” Adams said.
