While swinging a bat and swinging a club have many similarities, the games of baseball and golf have a completely different feel. 

This year, sophomores Gunner Jones, Will Tucker and Lincoln Tucker decided not to go out for baseball but instead to try golf. 

The boys picked up golf over the summer after getting asked by friends to go golfing with them.

“I got introduced to golf by a few of my friends back in May,” Lincoln Tucker said. “My first time playing golf was at Pine Bay golf course. After that, I started playing all the time and improving.” 

Will and Lincoln being twins adds competition for one another, always trying to outdo one another. 

Going from playing golf with their friends to tournament golf is a lot different in its own way.“I was very excited to finally be able to play and compete and see where I land in a tournament with others,” Will Tucker said. “It was definitely a good experience.”

The boys who made the switch still have two years after this to play, improve, and get used to playing tournament golf. 

The boys were excited heading into the season, and they quickly set goals for themselves.

“I wanted to put up consistent scores so I can qualify and go to state,” Lincoln Tucker said.

Lincoln has rapidly improved and now shoots 83 on 18 holes, earning himself the number 1 spot on varsity as long as Trip Holtzinger, Heath Oatken, Zach Lai, and Bradon Pho consistently are in the top 5 on their team.

Gunner Jones has also had a highlight of his season, winning a JV scramble tournament on the 28th of April.

“The tournament was super fun, I played with a great group of guys, and we all just played great golf. We shot -6 to tie, and then we won the playoff to win the tournament.” Gunner Jones said.

 With the tournaments they have played, the boys have had to face challenges like the weather and adapting to courses they haven’t played before.

“Playing in the wind for me is my biggest challenge just due to the fact you don’t know where the ball is going to go,” Will Tucker said. “For example, if the wind is (blowing) straight into your face, you have to club up and try your best to have the right club.” 

Another main challenge they faced is playing courses they have never played before; the greens, the distances, and the slopes are all different.

“Playing at the different courses is a great time, but I’m so used to the Derby Country Club that when we play somewhere, the fairways play so much differently with distances and the break in the green.” Lincoln Tucker said.