Spring 2024 Season Preview Article
Justin Scott - Sports Reporter
4/6/2024, Published in 3/21/2024 Ledger
Lowell Golf Looks to Reload Rather Than Rebuild
When you lose three of the best players in program history to graduation last year; Drew Veldman, Patrick de Voest, and Cam Sluss, it might feel like you’re in for a down year the next season, but Lowell Coach Tom Koert is excited about his group coming in.
“We are a better program because of these guys,” Koert said of the three, two of them playing collegiately at Spring Arbor this year. “To reload our team and not overhaul is every player’s challenge. This team has the talent to remain where we have been for the past few years. Our early season practices will identify our season. We want to remain a significant golf team in West Michigan,” added Koert.
It starts at the top with returning varsity players Nicholas Lothian and Trevor Mead. The two were consistently in the lineup last year. Mead has 91 pars, 9 birdies over his high school career, and has a low of 85 in 18-hole competition. Lothian also has 9 birdies and 131 pars, and recorded a career low 77 last year at the Hillsdale Invitational at Bedford Valley.
“Trevor and Nicholas will rotate at the #1 spot as they are equal in talent. Both guys are showing great leadership, and we’ll go further if they continue to inspire the team to believe they can score and play smart. We are lucky to have these two players leading this reload of our players.”
Joining the varsity team are several players from the JV team last year. One of those is Jarrett Smith, the sophomore coming fresh off an individual wrestling state championship and finding himself on the varsity golf team. Also joining him is wrestling teammate Casey Engle.
“Both guys also make the move from jv and these two can give us depth. Both can make an impact on our team and help us. Lowell golf results will be much better if they keep developing,” said Koert of the two.
Another duo that is transitioning from a winter sport to golf are basketball players Ben Gaskin and Ethan Doezema. Gaskin is a senior who was one of the leaders for both football and basketball this school year.
“They look much improved as they make the move from JV. Their improvement shows their dedication to give their best golf to this team. 2024 will depend on them to help our team get deep,” added Coach.
Anytime a 9th grader makes the varsity golf team is an exciting prospect for the golf program, and Tyler Hart is one of those as he joins the team this year along with first year golfer Mitchell Swint.
Two others are Evan Bray and Daniel Mitchell, who could be key to Lowell golf making a deep postseason run. When it comes to golf, you just need four good scores, it's a simple concept scoring wise, but the deeper the team, the better your chances of advancing to team state which is the golf for Lowell Boys Golf this year.
Lowell Boys Golf opens the season after Spring Break, on April 11th at Thornapple Pointe for the Kent County Classic.
"The Kent County Classic is an early event that shows every team what they need to do to improve. We need that event to push our guys to make adjustments. We will look to play solid at Bedford Valley and Muskegon Country Club as these courses are elite golf courses in Michigan. A tough course will show these guys what it takes to score," Koert concluded.
