Par five: Central pencils in some downright low scores

A lineup filled with experienced seniors often leads to success in most high school sports.

On the golf course, age does not count for much, though; and the physical maturity another year may give does not necessarily translate to good golf shots.

But Central's senior-dominated roster is making an offseason's worth of hard work pay off, posting scores rarely achieved at the school.

"They've all gotten better, and that doesn't happen by just getting a year older," longtime Tigers coach Dick Wadlington said. "You have to put in the time. I think everyone on the team has cut two or three strokes. That's a lot."

The Tigers returned all of their top players from last year, including two golfers who participated in the state tournament. Blake Driskell has qualified for the state tournament in each of his first three seasons, and Kirk Lohmann has played in the past two state tournaments.

"We have everyone back and very high expectations," Driskell said.

Those expectations appear justified. Central posted its lowest team score at its home course in Wadlington's coaching career with a 1-under-par Thursday in one of its final home matches before the district tournament.

The Tigers' 139 total at Cape Girardeau Country Club came with two players shooting under par and four players at 37 or under on the par-35 front nine. Driskell shot a 4-under-par 31, the lowest score Wadlington could recall for a Central player at the course, and Zach Kluesner shot a 1-under 34.

"We started the season a little slow and still played well," senior Robert Kaverman said. "Lately, the weather's warmed up, and so did we. We're playing a lot better now. Our bad days are what our good days were last year. We haven't shot this well since the 1960s."

Central has not lost a match this season. Driskell has routinely led the squad with an average score of about 35.

Lohmann, Kaverman and Kluesner typically have rounded out Central's top four for scoring purposes, while sophomore Jack Connell also has the ability to crack the team's top four.

"I think our confidence is really high right now," Kluesner said. "You go out there putting four or five guys that can shoot under par any given day."

Team chemistry has given the Tigers an added boost. Golf may be an individual sport in most respects, but the closeness of the Central group has helped to enhance its play on the course.

"As far as teamwork, we've gotten better," Driskell said. "We're really rooting each other on. That's what's great about high school golf, it's more about the team."

Added Wadlington: "You can tell they're all good friends. They cheer for each other. They like to see each other succeed. It's an interesting group with six seniors and one sophomore. Some of these kids have played together for four years."

Even with all of the success the Tigers have had, they still will enter district play as underdogs. Poplar Bluff finished as the state runner-up last season in Class 4 and was third in 2004.

"Bluff's always been a tough obstacle for us," Kluesner said. "I feel this year is our best chance to beat them."

Playing the district meet May 1 at Westwood Hills Country Club, Poplar Bluff's home course, will make it even harder for the Tigers to bring home a title. Central last qualified for the state tournament as a team in 2004.

Driskell said the location of the district tournament is disappointing but added that Central's recent play should give them a shot anywhere.

"The last few rounds we've shot 2 over," he said, "and that will get the job done anywhere."