Starting off their season with a hole in one, the Marlow High School girls and boys varsity golf teams competed at their first tournament of the 2022 season on Wednesday, March 23.

The girls team placed first, having played at Generations Golf Course, and the boys team placed second, with their tournament taking place at the Lake Murray Golf Course.

Sophomore Gabby Hack has played golf for nine years and has placed in the top ten of every tournament she has attended, and she also placed first at the Generations Golf Tournament.

“I was happy with the place I got but not satisfied with the score,” Hack expressed. “I definitely could have done better, and there are things I need to work on.”

The boys and girls high school teams have been practicing for their season for over two months, having begun their preparations in February.

Mikey Eaves, coach of the Lady Outlaws’ golf team for the past twelve years, has been helping with these preparations.

“My goal as a coach is to try and teach as many life lessons as possible through the game of golf,” Eaves said. “That is always my ultimate goal every year—to help each student learn something from it, whether it is about golf or life.”

The second tournament of the season for the girls team took place at the Lake Murray Golf Course on March 24, the location where the boys last tournament was held, and the girls placed second overall.

Senior Miranda Martinez has been a member of the MHS Lady Outlaws varsity team since seventh grade.

“I hope to accomplish a lot this season,” Martinez stated. “My goal is to place more at tournaments and get close to being in the top ten at state.”

The second tournament of the season for the boys varsity team occurred on the same day as the Lady Outlaws third tournament of the season.

The tournaments both took place on March 28, with the girl’s tournament at the Lakeview Golf Course in Ardmore, where they placed third, and the boys tournament at the Fort Sill Golf Course in Lawton Mac, where the boys placed fifth overall.

The MHS boys golf coach, James Brown, coached junior high for about six years before he started coaching high school golf in 2019.

“My ultimate goal for the 2022 season is to make it to the state tournament,” Brown stated. “I hope that the team is able to attend two years in a row.”

Hard work and dedication is required to be a part of the varsity team. 

Boys varsity team member and sophomore Bradley McClure explained, “We spend countless hours on the golf course after school practicing, and we are out there until six or seven every night working.”

Senior Riley Head, member of the boys varsity team since freshman year, has learned many important lessons from golf.

“Golf teaches you to have patience because not everything is going to be perfect in life,” Head explained.

The boys next tournament will occur at the Duncan Golf and Tennis Club, and the next tournament for the girls varsity will take place at the Sulphur Hills Golf Course.

Both tournaments will take place on Thursday, April, and Marlow will compete with schools such as the Duncan Demons and the Sulphur Bulldogs. 

The boys and girls varsity teams will continue improving their swings and striving for victory as the season continues and their determination grows.