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Improved balance is the trait Grand Island Central Catholic coach Bob McFarland expects he'll be able to count on from the Crusader boys golf team this season.
After relying heavily on senior Brad Kulus for much of last year, McFarland said GICC will need a five-man effort each and every time out in 2008.
"This year, I think I've got four or five players that will be closer score-wise," said McFarland, whose team opens its season Tuesday in the North Platte Invitational at Iron Eagle Golf Course. "I think we'll have a stronger team because we're more balanced, rather than relying so much on one individual."
Seniors Tim Dvorak and Nathan LaBrie will be counted on to lead the way for GICC. McFarland said both players have displayed strong leadership skills in the preseason, especially in the area of helping younger players in the program.
In addition to Dvorak and LaBrie, the Crusaders' starting lineup for their first meet was also scheduled to include junior Spencer Fahey, junior Nick Daley a transfer from Columbus Scotus and sophomore Dale Curran. McFarland said freshman Turner Fahey could also press for playing time during the season.
Central Catholic was scheduled to start its season last Thursday, but a snowstorm postponed the North Platte Invitational. While that gave the Crusaders a few extra days of practice, McFarland said his team could probably still use some more practice time.
"We've spent a lot of time working on drills and I think it will benefit us not so much early in the season, but later in the season and at the end of the season, it will show up," McFarland said. "As the season progresses, I think they'll see some progress with the short game."
McFarland said it's too soon to tell how good Central Catholic can be this season. The Crusaders will get an early test in the opening meet at Iron Eagle as they'll face a predominantly Class-A field on a layout that presents several difficult holes early on.
"It's really a difficult golf course on the front nine," McFarland said. "If the boys can get through the first four holes without having double bogeys, then they'll have success. But if you have trouble on those first four holes, it can be the start to a bad day all around."
2008 GICC Golf
March 25, North Platte Invitational at Iron Eagle; 27, Superior Invitational.
April 1, Kearney Catholic Invitational at Meadowlark Hills; 4, Ord Invitational; 10, York Invitational; 15, Hastings St. Cecilia Triangular at Southern Hills; 22, Holdrege; 24, vs. Hastings St. Cecilia at Southern Hills; 28, G.I. Cup Match at Riverside Golf Club; 29, GICC Invitational at Jackrabbit Run.
May 3, Centennial Conference meet at Columbus; 6, Tri-City Invitational at Jackrabbit Run; 12, District meet at Indianhead; 20-21, State meet at Kearney Country Club.
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