Glendora, CA (Men’s Golf) -- The Citrus College Men’s Golf team’s 2012 season got underway on Monday afternoon, and expectations are high for the Owls. Citrus returns four of their top six players from last season, get another back who played in 2010, and bring in some young players who will challenge the sophomores.
“I have much bigger expectations this year then I have had in the past. With four returning sophomores, and some incoming freshman, the players we have this year are all improved over year’s past,” said Citrus College Head Men’s Golf Coach Julian “Trip” Horton. “Last year a round of 78 would put you as the number three or four guy on our team. This year if you aren’t shooting below a 76 you aren’t making our top six.”
Included in those returners are sophomores Shane Favinger and Etsuyuki Fukaya, Citrus’ top two golfers last year. Favinger qualified for the Southern California Championships as a freshman, finishing 23rd out of 78 competing golfers.
“Shane[Favinger] is our top returner having qualified for regionals last season. He came into the season last year with an injury and just got better and better as the season went along, and he’s done the same thing in the off-season. He should be lights out this year,” Horton said. “Etsuyuki Fukaya is another one. He’s played much, much better, and has become a really consistent golfer.”
In order for the Owls to have success this season, Citrus will have to be mentally strong. That is what will separate the Owls from the rest of the pack according to Coach Horton.
“Everything in this game is mental, and our success this year will depend on how we handle things in our head,” Horton said. “That’s the biggest difference between this team and others in the past, and early on it looks like all our guys have their heads on straight and are very strong mentally.”
Citrus will be tested from the get go as they participate in arguably the toughest conference in the State. The Western State Conference has had a representative in the State Championships each of the past six seasons.
“Our conference is always one of the toughest conferences top to bottom,” Horton said. “Some of the other conferences have good teams, but nothing compares to the Western State where any team could take it at any time.”
With the season ready to get going the Owls have their goals set, and are ready to compete for their first conference title since 1996.
“Our goal is to finish in the top two spots in conference. I believe we have the make-up to accomplish that. Once we get to regionals the sky could be the limit,” Horton said. “We’re going to take it one event at a time, but I believe this team has a chance to go far.”