Competition among teammates inspires Hinton golfers
By Barrry Poe, Journal sports writer | Posted: Friday, April 27, 2007
HINTON, Iowa -- Put yourself in Josh Solma's shoes. FootJoys, if you please.
Solma, a senior on Hinton High School's defending Iowa Class 1A state boys golf championship team, has been the No. 2 player since the first day of his freshman season. He averages 39.2 strokes per nine holes, but hasn't been the medalist in a single dual this season.
That, you'd think, would bother most players of his caliber. However, that's not the case on this close-knit outfit, which appears on course to make a strong defense of its title next month.
While Solma has indeed put up some impressive numbers, his main competition normally comes not from the opposition, but rather from a talented group of teammates.
Specifically David Young.
Young, the defending Class 1A state individual champion, averages a salty 36.4 strokes per nine holes. That's not even a chip shot over par, in case you're counting.
"He (Young) helps me a lot with my swing and we work together when we can, like everybody else on our team does," said Solma. "Finishing behind him all the time bothered me at first, but now he's good and I'm good and if we can win a state championship, it doesn't matter to me."
Working together, and doing a whole lot of winning in the process, has been the trademark for Coach Bruce Held's Blackhawks.
"I think what's so special about this is that it's something none of us will ever see again," said Young, a senior who shot 69-71--140 (even par) to win the state medalist award by five strokes last season. "Knowing that I was part of something that may never happen again is pretty special.
"We try to improve every night just by trying to beat each other. When we lose, it's always to a kid from our own team."
Like Solma, Young's No. 1 spot in the lineup dates back to Day 1 of his freshman season. He'll play next season at Cameron University, an NCAA Division II school in Lawton, Okla.
The Blackhawks returned five players from the state championship team and are unbeaten in duals for the second straight season.
The other returnees are seniors Adam Freed and Jamie Smith along with junior Cory Westphal. Adam Freed, a Briar Cliff University basketball recruit, averages 40.1 per nine, just a shade above his younger brother, junior Nate Freed (40.0). Westphal has a 40.3 average while Smith, who's been in and out of the lineup as the "sixth man" this season, averages 41.0.
"We kind of came out of the blue last season, so I think some people were kind of surprised," said Held, in his 14th season as head coach. "The thing we have trouble doing, which is the case with most golf teams, is everybody putting it together on the same day.
"That's kind of what we did for two days at the state meet last year. It was a true team effort and things just kind of fell into place for us."
Veteran leadership, along with the spirit of competition, has helped the Blackhawks pick up where they left off last season.
"David Young is a special player, but there are days he can't beat his own teammates," said Held. "Solma is tough, too, and, this year, Adam Freed has more medals than anybody.
"The thing about this group is they don't just play golf, they practice it."
Which leads to the roles of Dan Freed, Adam and Nate's father, and Dan Young, David's dad. Each an accomplished player in his own right, they spend most of their spare time working with the team.
"Dan Young is probably the best swing coach you could have around," said Held. "And Dan Freed is out there playing every morning, and the kids are usually playing with him."
Dan Freed, by the way, has captured three Interstate Amateur, two Men's City and two River-Cade championships.
"Those guys are a lot more golf coaches than I am," said the modest Held. "They've done a lot more than I have."
Although it culminated in the state championship last season, Hinton has fielded talented teams for most of the past decade. A lof of that, according to Held, had to do with the construction of Deer Run Golf Course 11 years ago.
The nine-hole layout, just south of the high school football field, has provided a perfect home.
"Getting our own course made all the difference in the world," said Held.
Hinton still has a couple of dual meets remaining on its schedule, including a matchup against Unity Christian at Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City on Monday. Unity Christian shot 150 in a dual earlier this week.
The Blackhawks will host a 1A sectional on May 11 and the district meet is set for May 18 at Spencer Municipal. The state meet has been assigned to Spring Valley, just outside of Livermore, Iowa.
In typical Hinton fashion, the team will travel to Spring Valley on Saturday for a practice round.
Chances are, they'll be keeping score.
Solma, a senior on Hinton High School's defending Iowa Class 1A state boys golf championship team, has been the No. 2 player since the first day of his freshman season. He averages 39.2 strokes per nine holes, but hasn't been the medalist in a single dual this season.
That, you'd think, would bother most players of his caliber. However, that's not the case on this close-knit outfit, which appears on course to make a strong defense of its title next month.
While Solma has indeed put up some impressive numbers, his main competition normally comes not from the opposition, but rather from a talented group of teammates.
Specifically David Young.
Young, the defending Class 1A state individual champion, averages a salty 36.4 strokes per nine holes. That's not even a chip shot over par, in case you're counting.
"He (Young) helps me a lot with my swing and we work together when we can, like everybody else on our team does," said Solma. "Finishing behind him all the time bothered me at first, but now he's good and I'm good and if we can win a state championship, it doesn't matter to me."
Working together, and doing a whole lot of winning in the process, has been the trademark for Coach Bruce Held's Blackhawks.
"I think what's so special about this is that it's something none of us will ever see again," said Young, a senior who shot 69-71--140 (even par) to win the state medalist award by five strokes last season. "Knowing that I was part of something that may never happen again is pretty special.
"We try to improve every night just by trying to beat each other. When we lose, it's always to a kid from our own team."
Like Solma, Young's No. 1 spot in the lineup dates back to Day 1 of his freshman season. He'll play next season at Cameron University, an NCAA Division II school in Lawton, Okla.
The Blackhawks returned five players from the state championship team and are unbeaten in duals for the second straight season.
The other returnees are seniors Adam Freed and Jamie Smith along with junior Cory Westphal. Adam Freed, a Briar Cliff University basketball recruit, averages 40.1 per nine, just a shade above his younger brother, junior Nate Freed (40.0). Westphal has a 40.3 average while Smith, who's been in and out of the lineup as the "sixth man" this season, averages 41.0.
"We kind of came out of the blue last season, so I think some people were kind of surprised," said Held, in his 14th season as head coach. "The thing we have trouble doing, which is the case with most golf teams, is everybody putting it together on the same day.
"That's kind of what we did for two days at the state meet last year. It was a true team effort and things just kind of fell into place for us."
Veteran leadership, along with the spirit of competition, has helped the Blackhawks pick up where they left off last season.
"David Young is a special player, but there are days he can't beat his own teammates," said Held. "Solma is tough, too, and, this year, Adam Freed has more medals than anybody.
"The thing about this group is they don't just play golf, they practice it."
Which leads to the roles of Dan Freed, Adam and Nate's father, and Dan Young, David's dad. Each an accomplished player in his own right, they spend most of their spare time working with the team.
"Dan Young is probably the best swing coach you could have around," said Held. "And Dan Freed is out there playing every morning, and the kids are usually playing with him."
Dan Freed, by the way, has captured three Interstate Amateur, two Men's City and two River-Cade championships.
"Those guys are a lot more golf coaches than I am," said the modest Held. "They've done a lot more than I have."
Although it culminated in the state championship last season, Hinton has fielded talented teams for most of the past decade. A lof of that, according to Held, had to do with the construction of Deer Run Golf Course 11 years ago.
The nine-hole layout, just south of the high school football field, has provided a perfect home.
"Getting our own course made all the difference in the world," said Held.
Hinton still has a couple of dual meets remaining on its schedule, including a matchup against Unity Christian at Landsmeer Golf Club in Orange City on Monday. Unity Christian shot 150 in a dual earlier this week.
The Blackhawks will host a 1A sectional on May 11 and the district meet is set for May 18 at Spencer Municipal. The state meet has been assigned to Spring Valley, just outside of Livermore, Iowa.
In typical Hinton fashion, the team will travel to Spring Valley on Saturday for a practice round.
Chances are, they'll be keeping score.
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