MARBLEHEAD — New is the theme for the Marblehead golf team this season.
After graduating seven seniors from last year’s roster, Marblehead enters the 2019 season with new faces assuming the vacant positions.
“It’s a totally different team,” Maigicians coach Bob Green, entering his second season, said. “We go from seven seniors to two seniors and that makes a difference. We worked on the mental game a lot last year, we didn’t touch their swings too much. This year it’s going to be more of a learning season. It’s a totally different season from last year.”
Brendan Locke and Ben Brennan, both 2018 graduates, powered last year’s team to a 10-4 record. Locke’s now on the golf team at St. Michael’s. Will Cleary, Finn Keaney, Ben Gansenberg, Charlie Suhr and Sam Thompson also left the team due to graduation.
Marblehead returns two experienced co-captains in junior Ben Weed and senior Gavin Lundgren. They’ve moved up from the No. 3 and No. 4 spots, where they were slotted last fall, to No. 1 and No. 2.
“They were good players last year,” Green said. “We just had two very good players at No. 1 and No. 2. They could’ve been No. 2 and No. 3 on any team last year. They’ve worked on their games and they’ve improved. I’m expecting they’ll be very competitive in (the Northeastern Conference).”
Freshman Matt Weed will step into the No. 3 spot and junior Matt Thompson’s the No. 4.
Also projected to contribute are freshman Drake Wyman, sophomores Dylan Callaghan, Bjorn Pluss and Jack Sontz, junior Noah Kaplowich and senior Jacob Nagel.
“One through four are pretty much known entities,” Green said. “It’s been getting to know five through 10 on the team. I knew them from the JV team. My assistant, Alex Glover, is the JV coach. We kept in touch with how the JV team did last year. I know most of five through 10 from last year. I’m sure they’ll progress. They’ll work on their short games and the mental side of their games to help prepare them.”
Marblehead carries a younger roster but Green isn’t too concerned about whether or not his Magicians have enough varsity experience. The program has solid numbers and Marblehead’s underclassmen are improving on a daily basis — two positives the Magicians hold going into the season.
“We’re very young,” Green said. “We have 16 kids on the JV team and I believe most of them are freshmen and sophomores. These guys will play more golf and work on their games. Some of them just started playing. They’ll get better if they continue playing. The program’s doing well with numbers. We had 26 kids sign up. We have a healthy program going in Marblehead and we’re happy about that. The numbers are essential to create competition and it makes everybody better.”
Green’s excited about competing against Northeastern Conference teams this season. Classical, English and Salem are back on Marblehead’s schedule.
“I’m looking forward to Classical and English,” Green said. “I grew up at Gannon. I played my junior golf there. It’s always nice to go back there. It’s going to be nice having Classical, English and Salem on our end of the conference.”
The Magicians open the season Tuesday (4) when they welcome NEC opponent Gloucester to Tedesco Country Club.
