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Wesley Chapel Freshmen Start Strong

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By MATTHEW PARKE Tribune correspondent

Published: September 12, 2007

Despite returning just two seniors from 2006's Sunshine Athletic Conference tournament-winning team, Wesley Chapel's 2-1 boys golf program is not showing its youth.

Brandon Mumaw, Jesse Boger, Matt Wynne and Jacob Fleck are four freshmen making a sudden impact on a team that faced the uncertainty of a rebuilding year.

Their arrival was, according to Wildcats coach Alan Black, fortuitous at best.

'This is the best group of freshmen I've had since the high school opened nine years ago. After this success we've had the past four years, I did not know what I was going to get. I was thrilled to have freshmen come out. If this was last year or the year before, they would have been on the bench,' Black said.

The Wildcats came out strong with their first two wins against Hudson and Sunlake. Mumaw and Wynne shot in the 30s at The Groves, Sunlake's home course. The leading scorer of the match, Wesley Chapel's No. 1, Mike Wozniak, posted a nine-hole round of 38. The early success accelerated the bonding process between the upperclassmen and new players.

'It took about five or six practices for the seniors to adjust to the freshmen. Mike Wozniak has kind of adopted them. They may listen to him more than me because he's a peer, even though he's a little older. He enjoys seeing these kids being competitive,' Black said.

The team's budding chemistry has its foundations in the friendships and connections of the younger players. Mumaw, Boger and Wynne play baseball together. Wynne and Fleck are best friends and have been golfing together since the two picked up the game. They usually eat lunch together. Boger does not have the same lunch, but he sits with the other players' friends from baseball.
Mumaw is the de facto leader of the upstart group and brings the most match experience. He has competed in regional junior tournaments with top-10 finishes. His learning curve has shortened with the increased amount of practices.

'In junior events, the only time I would practice is the day before the tournament. Now that I am being able to go out there every day, I have improved a lot. I wasn't that good of a putter. Being able to practice at the same course and to know how to play there helps a lot,' Mumaw said.

All of the freshmen have shown progression so far this season. According to Black, they are improving upon a solid foundation.

'They're fairly accurate. They don't have a ton of penalty strokes if they are playing well. They don't hit into trouble and are aiming for the fairway. They're gonna grow. In the next six months or a year, they'll be hitting the ball farther with more strength and control,' Black said.

The potential for Wesley Chapel to continue its success on the course will lie in these players' growth and commitment. Their assumption of leading roles so early in their prep careers could make them four-year starters by their senior year. This potential is something these players are realizing and they are becoming more invested in the game.

If not for the prodding of Fleck, however, Wynne would be playing fall league baseball instead.

'Thank God he convinced me to do it because it turned out to be a good decision. This is more important because I am probably going to be on the team the next three years and I've gotten really good at playing golf,' Wynne said.

Wesley Chapel's match against Zephyrhills proved to be its toughest so far this season. The team came up short, losing by three strokes 169-172. Fleck rebounded from a back injury during his first match to shoot a 43. Tougher matches loom late in the season against River Ridge and Mitchell.
Boger said that he thinks his team could be a top-three contender for the district, but beyond that is anyone's guess. He is sure about what lies in store if all four freshmen stick with the team.

'We are good right now. In three years we'll be a lot better. All four of us are about the same and we will grow the same too,' Boger said.

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