The St. Louis U. High golf season came to an abrupt end just after tryouts last March when Covid-19 hit. However, a little under a year later, the Jr. Bills are sweeping the dust off the old sticks and heading back to the links for the 2021 golf season. 

Tryouts began on March 1 with a range day at noon and then later a nine hole round in which the Class of 2021 faced off against the Class of 2022. In what is largely considered an upset, the juniors prevailed over the seniors, 239-247. Led by Louis Cornett and Thomas Ziegler who both fired one-under 34s, the juniors were more than happy with their statement win heading into the season while the seniors left the course a little disappointed after the first day of tryouts. 

“I felt like I had 21 putts,” said senior Grant Sussman. “I let the senior team down. Loss is on me.

After Monday’s competition, two groups rotated from hitting balls at the Highlands to playing rounds at Probstein golf courses, Dogwood and Hawthorne. After the week was up, cuts were made and the season expectations were high. As of last Sunday, five players had an average of under 40, a great sign early on in the season.

“My expectations are very high. They are always very high,” said head coach Dan Reardon. “We have a lot of talented players, but the question is do we show up and perform well when we have an opportunity?”

Thirty-five players made the golf team this year and will be divided among three teams: Varsity, JV, and C-team. With a larger-than-normal team, Reardon is eager for his players to gain experience quickly. 

“Right now, I have only two players who have played in a Varsity match or tournament. I have three seniors who have never played in a match,” said Reardon. “My sophomore class and my freshman class are both first-year players.”

Along with the task of building experience, the star performers—the core of the team from last year—have struggled to find their groove so far. Senior Sam Fix, arguably the best golfer at SLUH, sizzled in his junior year with a 36.8 average. However after the first week of tryouts, his average is up at 40. 

“The season has started off a little bumpy for me,” said Fix. “However, as any golfer knows, you need to step back and remind yourself that you're good at golf, that you’ve played well, and that you can play well again.”

Fix just was fitted for new clubs with longer shafts and looks to be returning to his old form, having fired a 36 this past Tuesday. 

With a load of talent from the seniors as well as the whole junior class, the Jr. Bills have the bar set high for this year's golf season. 

“Definitely a State Championship,” said junior Owen Rittenhouse. “At worst, we are going to definitely be there and place.”

Reardon is also ready to bring home a State Championship to SLUH in only his third year as head coach. 

“As long as I am coaching SLUH golf, the goal will always be the same thing,” said Reardon. “The last State Championship in golf at SLUH was in 1952. I’d like to be around when the players go out and win the next win.” 

With confidence, talent, and teammates who hold each other accountable, SLUH golf looks dangerously like a title contender, with its sights already set on May 17 for the State Tournament at Sedalia Country Club.