With the arrival of spring, the NDA boys’ golf team wasted no time jumping into the season. They immediately hit the road for early-season play in central Illinois.
In early April, the team traveled out of state for an invitational that included eight schools from Wisconsin. The trip allowed them to compete in four days of play. Included in their schedule were two days of tournament golf in Illinois followed by another tournament in Milwaukee.
The team’s official season began with a neutral-site meet featuring every conference school. The regular season will continue until graduation, with regionals beginning the following week.
Returning standouts Bennett Madson and Thomas Bobinski have already made an impact, and Madson has been named one of Wisconsin’s premier golfers.
Varsity lineups can change on a meet-to-meet basis. Five players can compete each time. Players rotate depending on the course and individual performance. All program players are limited to 15 meets throughout the season.
Last season, the team qualified for the state tournament but fell short of their expectations.
“We didn’t play as well as we would have liked,” said Head Coach Brian Bobinski, who also teaches math at NDA.
“We were close to winning the conference and had a tough first day at state. This year we’re aiming to win the conference and make it back to state stronger,” continued the coach..
With only one senior graduating last year, the team returns most of its core. Also in the program is a full junior varsity and freshman team.
“We’ve got a group that’s grown up around golf, and they are invested in the program,” Bobinski said when describing the varsity squad this year.
Tryouts were held, starting on March 30 until the team’s first tournament on April 3, when the top five golfers were selected for varsity.
More than just winning matters to the coaching staff.
“I want the kids to maximize their potential and overachieve,” said Bobinski.
Upcoming events include a local meet this week and a return to Milwaukee for another meet.
With early competition under their belts and high goals in front of them, the boys’ golf team is on par for a big season.
