Cape Central golf seeing unprecedented success

This season the Cape Central Tigers golf team has reached new heights.

The Tigers have consistently posted their best team scores since coach Scott Sanders took over the program eight years ago.

“What’s even sweeter is all of these guys are coming back next year,” Sanders said. “We had our best team score in a tournament with 340 at the Jackson Invitational. Individually, our best score is Seth Ferguson who shot a 78 down at Poplar Bluff. Our best nine-hole match score in Josiah Seabaugh who shot a 38 this year.”

Those impressive numbers didn’t just happen. According to Sanders, it all starts with his players pushing each other.

“Our core group of players have really challenged each other,” Sanders said. “I’ve got two juniors in Nate Roth and Garrett Schmidt who set the tone. They push each other and that really helps.”

Because his group pushes each other, Sanders said it makes his life easier, but he also enjoys seeing how that work ethic benefits them outside of golf.

“The golf scores are great to see,” Sanders said. “But, like in every other sport we’re just looking to build good young men. It just translates to real life.”

Sanders acknowledged that golf can be a frustrating sport, and keeping a team-first mindset is key to staying composed on the course.

“The mindset of buying in to what makes a team or player better has really been where we’ve seen that improvement,” Sanders said. “They know there’s no secret formula, they just have to put in work.”

Getting to the point of posting low scores isn’t easy and Sanders made sure to give credit where it’s due.

“The district has been very generous with what we’ve needed,” Sanders said. “At our home course, Cape Country Club, the manager out there Bridget Gilbert has made the course and the facilities out there as available as possible.”

The Tigers are back in action on Monday, April 29, when they compete in the SEMO Conference Tournament in Sikeston.