Boys Varsity Golf: Season Outlook

The St. Luke’s golf team welcomes Stephen Vehslage, St. Luke’s Associate Director of College Counseling, as its new head coach and program director and is delighted Mitch Murphy, St. Luke’s Upper School History Teacher, will be back as the team’s assistant coach for the 2022 season.

 

Vehslage is excited for the opportunity and hopes to build on the success the program has enjoyed during the last few years: “I love the game of golf and hope my enthusiasm will be infectious and encourage a positive attitude among our players. I was the head tennis coach for years, so I'm not new to coaching. However, golf presents different challenges and opportunities. I look forward to working with the kids on strategy, mental toughness, and swing mechanics.”

 

Vehslage expects the two team captains, Ben Loomis ‘22 and Will Winalski ‘22, to use their knowledge and experience to guide the younger members of SLS golf: “We have two great captains. I expect them to promote team bonding, model good sportsmanship, and demonstrate a strong work ethic. I know they will actively support the younger players, which will be a key component of their roles.”

 

St. Luke’s boasts an abundance of talent, with Loomis playing in the number one spot ahead of Eoin Meuller ‘23, Watson Meyer ‘24 and Chad Ruggiero ‘24. Vehslage has been impressed with his entire squad: “We're a deep team with an impressive roster. The varsity players are a talented bunch. We've seen competition for the number two, three, and four spots, and the lineup is subject to change from day to day and week to week.”

 

The Storm won its first two contests of the season against Rye Country Day School on Monday, April 4, and Masters School (New York) on Tuesday, April 12, but Vehslage knows the Fairchester Athletic Association is filled with good teams: “If history is any guide, Brunswick, Hamden Hall, and Hopkins will be our toughest tests. We want to improve over time, with each player developing from week to week. Obviously, we'd like to play smart and win matches, too. Just as importantly, we want the players to find joy in the game and to bond as a team.”

 

St. Luke’s is back in action on Monday, April 18, against King School before a trip to Burning Tree Country Club, where they will take on Greens Farms Academy on Thursday, April 21. Despite the team’s full schedule, Vehslage hopes his players can stay focussed: “Everyone gets hot and cold from time to time, but the players can always control how they approach a round and prepare for each shot. The key is for them to be thoughtful about course management, avoid compounding errors, and keep from losing steam after a bad hole.”