Read our E-papers:
Ahwatukee Foothills News
Maricopa Tribune
Ocotillo Tribune
RW - Homepage KW - Homepage
August 14, 2007
DV Thunder finding new ways to end late-round miscues.
Recreational
runners in the Ahwatukee Foothills may have to be sharing the road with
the Desert Vista High School boys’ golf team this fall.
In high school, players walk and carry their own clubs the nine or 18 holes of a match.
“We struggled over the last three or four holes at some invitational tournaments last season,” said Desert Vista coach Peter Moody, “so we’ll be doing some running this year. It’s a new twist and brings some of the college atmosphere to our level and it will be good for team bonding.”
That, Moody feels, will help the already solid Thunder team become even better.
“We have the talent and if we put it together we should have one of the best teams Desert Vista has ever had, bar none,” Moody added.
Going into his third season as boys coach, Moody’s footprint on the team is starting to show.
“This is most talent we’ve had in my three years here,” Moody added. “I think we’re going to be successful. We’re solid in the top three (spots) and I we’ve got some young kids I think will step up.”’
The Thunder lost four seniors from last season’s team, but seniors Tyler Gaston, Andrew Michelson and junior Kevin Witte are expected to hold down the top three playing spots.
“Tyler is a four-year starter who came in two-under (par) the final day of the state tournament,” Moody said, “so if he can put two of those kind of days together, we’ll be in the top 10. Kevin has grown up and his game has really come around. Andy and Tyler should be competing for state when that comes around.”
Desert Vista improved by nine strokes in the final day of the state tournament at the state championship last season and finished 11th, nine strokes behind Ahwatukee Foothills rival Mountain Pointe and Scottsdale Horizon.
In addition to co-hosting the annual three-day Ahwatukee Cup Ryder Cup-format tournament, Aug. 27-29, the Thunder will also host their own invitational tournament for the first time at the exclusive Tonto Verde Golf Course in north Scottsdale this season.
Mountain Pointe, Phoenix Brophy, Tempe Corona del Sol, Glendale Mountain Ridge and Peoria Sunrise Mountain are expected to be in the field.
“If we get some production out of our four and five spots we can win an invitational or two this year,” Moody said.
Filling out those key spots in the lineup will be the responsibility of junior D.J. Manzo, and sophomores Domenic Alvaro and Eric Long-Goheen.
“They’ve all played in junior tournaments and have the exposure now,” Moody said, “so the big thing is we’re veterans now.”
Moody also has some promising freshmen who may not be able to crack the lineup this season.
“You don’t want to scare the freshmen away, but they’re not quite as seasoned and it’s also a numbers game,” Moody said. “But we also want to be sure someone is there in case we need them.”
Brad Goodlander is a promising freshman that Moody hopes will get some high school experience by playing in some nine-hole matches this season.
Chase Cochran, a 2005 Desert Vista graduate who will be playing at Boise State as well as the Arizona Amateur tournament this week, has been playing some rounds with the current team.
“It’s neat because he’s a former player who is playing in college and can show our guys a thing or two,” Moody added.
But the Thunder players will need to keep pace.
Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.
In high school, players walk and carry their own clubs the nine or 18 holes of a match.
“We struggled over the last three or four holes at some invitational tournaments last season,” said Desert Vista coach Peter Moody, “so we’ll be doing some running this year. It’s a new twist and brings some of the college atmosphere to our level and it will be good for team bonding.”
That, Moody feels, will help the already solid Thunder team become even better.
“We have the talent and if we put it together we should have one of the best teams Desert Vista has ever had, bar none,” Moody added.
Going into his third season as boys coach, Moody’s footprint on the team is starting to show.
“This is most talent we’ve had in my three years here,” Moody added. “I think we’re going to be successful. We’re solid in the top three (spots) and I we’ve got some young kids I think will step up.”’
The Thunder lost four seniors from last season’s team, but seniors Tyler Gaston, Andrew Michelson and junior Kevin Witte are expected to hold down the top three playing spots.
“Tyler is a four-year starter who came in two-under (par) the final day of the state tournament,” Moody said, “so if he can put two of those kind of days together, we’ll be in the top 10. Kevin has grown up and his game has really come around. Andy and Tyler should be competing for state when that comes around.”
Desert Vista improved by nine strokes in the final day of the state tournament at the state championship last season and finished 11th, nine strokes behind Ahwatukee Foothills rival Mountain Pointe and Scottsdale Horizon.
In addition to co-hosting the annual three-day Ahwatukee Cup Ryder Cup-format tournament, Aug. 27-29, the Thunder will also host their own invitational tournament for the first time at the exclusive Tonto Verde Golf Course in north Scottsdale this season.
Mountain Pointe, Phoenix Brophy, Tempe Corona del Sol, Glendale Mountain Ridge and Peoria Sunrise Mountain are expected to be in the field.
“If we get some production out of our four and five spots we can win an invitational or two this year,” Moody said.
Filling out those key spots in the lineup will be the responsibility of junior D.J. Manzo, and sophomores Domenic Alvaro and Eric Long-Goheen.
“They’ve all played in junior tournaments and have the exposure now,” Moody said, “so the big thing is we’re veterans now.”
Moody also has some promising freshmen who may not be able to crack the lineup this season.
“You don’t want to scare the freshmen away, but they’re not quite as seasoned and it’s also a numbers game,” Moody said. “But we also want to be sure someone is there in case we need them.”
Brad Goodlander is a promising freshman that Moody hopes will get some high school experience by playing in some nine-hole matches this season.
Chase Cochran, a 2005 Desert Vista graduate who will be playing at Boise State as well as the Arizona Amateur tournament this week, has been playing some rounds with the current team.
“It’s neat because he’s a former player who is playing in college and can show our guys a thing or two,” Moody added.
But the Thunder players will need to keep pace.
Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.
