Mix of experience, talented newcomers sets QHS golfers on path back to regional success

QUINCY — As the Quincy High School boys golfers prepared Monday morning for their initial round of qualifying, Blue Devils coach Randy Mettemeyer reminded them they are no longer new kids on the block.

“Especially for the seniors, I joked with them and told them, ‘Remember how nervous you were on your first tee shot your freshman year,’” Mettemeyer said. “They were all like, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s night and day.’ There’s still some nerves when you take that first shot, but they’ve been there before.”

That’s what will get the QHS program back where it feels it belongs.

Last fall, the Blue Devils were unable to navigate a loaded Class 3A regional field, finishing sixth and failing to advance to sectionals.

“It was kind of a gut punch not making it out, especially on our home course,” Mettemeyer said about the regional, which was played at Westview Golf Course and resulted in two QHS individuals — Gabriel Gold and Sam Cory — advancing as individuals.

They return for their senior seasons, and they are part of an experienced lineup that features five returnees. They will be bolstered by two newcomers — sophomore Hunter St. Clair, who is a transfer from Quincy Notre Dame, and freshman Ty Novosel.

St. Clair recently qualified for the Gateway PGA Section Junior Tour championship, and Novosel is coming off a third-place finish last fall in the IESA state tournament as an eighth grader.

What’s significant is they learn, adjust and adapt with help from their older teammates.

Ben Weber and Noah Daly are seniors and Issa Geisendorfer is a sophomore, and all have varsity experience.

“What I like about it is, for the most part, this will be their second time going through everything,” Mettemeyer said. “They have at least seen the golf courses we’re going to play. They know what kind of competition we play. Every time they step to the tee, it’s not their first time doing it.”

That’s especially true for Gold, who is entering his fourth season in the varsity lineup and took the leadership reins this summer by organizing team outings.

“They played together and would meet up a couple of times per week and play nine holes or go out and play a hole round,” Mettemeyer said. “It built team chemistry and was good practice for them, too.”

Although Gold will likely be at the top of the lineup to start the season, Mettemeyer wouldn’t be surprised to see different golfers post the lowest score on any given day and sees this as a true team affair, not just three or four guys doing all the heavy lifting.

“I think we’re in a place where everybody’s score is going to count during the season,” Mettemeyer said.

What he saw on Day 1 has him more convinced of that.

“We posted some good scores and I think we have the chance to be pretty good,” Mettemeyer said. “But there’s room for improvement. That’s great because these guys will keep working to get better.”