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Young golfers ready to chip in

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By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 14, 2009

TAMPA - Sometimes a coach turns to young, inexperienced players out of necessity. For Academy of the Holy Names golf coach Chris Kumka, that strategy is working out well.

With one senior, one freshman and three eighth-graders, the Jaguars are off to a 6-1 start.

"This is my fourth year, and from a wins and losses standpoint this is the best year we've had," Kumka said. "But this is a unique sport where kids who are a little younger can have success and certainly we've had that this year."

The Jaguars have bested Berkeley Prep and Tampa Prep in their last two matches with solid play from three eighth-graders; Emmy Martin, Mariah Diaz and Casey Pluchino, along with senior Anne Milewski and freshman Christina Gerecke.

"It's been a wide spectrum in terms of experience for this team," Kumka said. "We have a senior who has been great showing the rest of the team what experience brings, and the three eighth-graders and our freshmen who are just starting their development as golfers."

Martin has shot in the low 40s with a season low 39 in AHN's match against Northside Christian on Sept. 3. Diaz shot her best round of the season with a 41 in the Jaguars' only loss of the season in another match against Northside Christian on Sept. 17.

"When they started last year as seventh-graders you could see with all three of them there was definitely some ability there," Kumka said. "But the credit goes to them and how hard they have worked from then until now.

"I've seen big improvements in all three of them."

In his fourth season as AHN golf coach, Kumka said he credits his players' offseason work with the strides the team has made from last season to this year.

"We get two, two-and-a-half months of golf season, and then it's up to them for 10 months of the year," Kumka said. "Golf is a tough game to work on because you're always doing it on your own."

Kumka said Milewski has been a tremendous asset to the improvement of his young team by adding the experience that comes with being a four-year starter. He said Milewski instantly welcomed her teammates last season and has been a great example throughout the last two years.

"Anne, certainly with her experience and her willingness to help the younger players, has made this season pretty easy for everyone," Kumka said.

Milewski led the Jaguars to a 1A-14 district runner-up finish last season in the district tournament, with a 92 for a top five individual finish as well, while Diaz and Martin each shot a 99.

The Jaguars will begin the district 1A-14 tournament Oct. 20 at Cheval Country Club.

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