Success has been a common theme for Glendale golf this season, with five regular season tournament wins, a conference championship, and now a district title.
“We don’t panic out there,” said head coach Chris Obert. “We try to keep drama to a minimum and just kind of go with the punches.”
At the C4D5 tournament at Piney Valley, four Falcons placed in the top 10, and, coming off a third place finish at state a year ago, they seem poised to better that number this year.
“Their effort is equaling what they’re doing right now,” Obert said. “If they continue to keep learning, keep putting in the effort, they’ll keep getting the same results they’ve been getting.”
The phrase “embarrassment of riches” seems to fit Glendale golf well. Christopher Obert—coach’s son—won the individual conference championship, shooting a three-under 69. Then, at sectionals, his score of plus-eight wasn’t even counted in the Falcons’ final total of 302.
“We’ve just been working hard at practice,” the younger Obert said. “We don’t really have a particular mindset, but we always come out and do our best on every shot.”
That kind of competition—where the medalist in one tournament is the high man in the next—fosters an “anything you can do, I can do better” environment among the team, but also pays dividends individually.
“Having good teammates just gives me more confidence,” said senior Sam Holmes, who shot -1 at conference at +5 at sectionals. “It makes me want to play better and shoot lower scores and win.”
As good as the Falcons have been all year, their coach believes they may in fact be peaking at the right time.
“This is a journey these kids are on,” Obert said. “Not a destination, but a journey. They keep, year-round, during the season, they’ve just been getting better and better.”
Not that any of this is new for the program. But don’t expect these guys to wilt under the pressure of traditional success.
“I think pressure is what you make of it,” Christopher Obert said. “I think if you just come out here and do your best on every shot, aim it where you want to hit it, that’s about all you can do.”
