Muskie golfers looking to next season

The season is over for Fort High’s golfers after they placed sixth out of eight teams at a tournament in Sioux Lookout on Thursday with a total score of 366.
That left them tied for second with Dryden in league standings with 20 points, well behind top-ranked Red Lake, which easily took the top spot with 60 points—more than the next three teams combined.

Coach Greg Ste. Croix said the Muskies are the team of the future.
He noted the core of Red Lake’s team is graduating this month while his top two players—Alex McDonald, who led his team Thursday with an 82, and Jordan Sinclair, close behind at 85—are only in Grade 9.
“They’re consistently shooting 83 and under, it’s a good starting point,” said Ste. Croix. “My hope is that they play a lot of golf this summer, continue to work on their confidence.
“There’s still a big difference between a 14-year-old and an 18-year-old,” he added. “I think they’re also going to develop mentally, and the mental side of the game, and that’s going to lead to lower scores.”
Ste. Croix also was pleased with one of his other young guns, Kevin Jackson. Armed with a brand new putter, he improved dramatically on his showing from the previous week in Kenora.
“I was really, really impressed with Kevin shooting an 88,” he remarked.
“I know both Alex and Jordan left shots out on the course that in talking with them, that if they could’ve done it over, they’re probably sitting at a 79 and an 81,” he added.
“But that’s the game of golf.”
Looking ahead to next season, Ste. Croix said he hopes to institute daily practices in the fall (“just like a football team or a volleyball team or a basketball team”)—and he expects his top players to work hard over the summer to be ready.
The word commitment has become a staple of his vocabulary.
“I know for next year there’s going to be a dramatic difference in terms of commitment, both on my part and the players who wish to play,” he vowed.
For his part, Ste. Croix admitted he did not make it out to many tournaments last fall due to coaching conflicts with the Muskie junior boys’ volleyball team.
He’s said stepping up his dedication to Muskie golf may mean leaving that other coaching job vacant.
Ste. Croix said there may be open spots for committed players in the fall. “The key word there is committed,” he stressed.
“We’re also looking for six girls to play,” he added. “We haven’t had a girl play in a NorWOSSA event in a number of years.
“I know there are girls out there. For whatever reason, they don’t seem to want to come out, and that’s too bad.”
Ste. Croix also looked back fondly on the season that was.
“I was very proud to work with the golfers who played in the spring . . . I think these kids conducted themselves with a great deal of class,” he remarked.
“I’m very optimistic about next season,” he added. “I don’t want to wish the summer away, but when the fall comes around, it should be a good time for golf.”