By Scott A. Kolb
Post-Bulletin, Austin MN
Although they haven’t even been outside to practice so far this spring, the Lyle/Austin Pacelli boys golf team is scheduled to open the season on Friday afternoon at Houston.
The weather has apparently been drier over in the eastern part of the state over the last few weeks. The home course for the Houston Hurricanes is Valley High near Hokah, and it sits up on a hill.
"We called them (Tuesday) and they said it’s been dry at Valley High, so they want to go on Friday," L/P coach Mark Buntje said. "That’s how the season started last year with no outdoor practice and we opened on the road.
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"The kids are getting kind of antsy to play, so we have to hope for the best with our first time on the course. Houston has been practicing outside and they’ll have an advantage, but you have to get the season started sometime."
Matt Buntje, a senior, is the top returning golfer for the L/P Athletics. He averaged 45.1 strokes per round last year and was named to the All-Southeast Conference team. Buntje finished third in average for the conference last season.
Alex Brennan, a junior, is the No. 2 player back for the Athletics. He averaged 50.2 strokes per round last season. Brennan was selected as an honorable mention to the All-SEC team last year.
Justin Hutchinson, a senior, averaged 53.9 strokes per round last season. Dylan Fett, a sophomore, had a 54.1 per round average last season to round out the top four returning golfers for L/P.
Sophomore Garrett Jenkins and senior Nathan Fett might also see some varsity time this season for the Athletics on the links.
"We have a total of 16 boys out, so we’ll also have a full B-squad team," coach Buntje said. "The guys all played a lot over the summer, and they should be able bring down those averages this season.
"Lanesboro is the defending conference champions and they’ll be favored again. Houston and LeRoy-Ostrander will also be tough. Hopefully, with most of the kids back we should improve and stay near the top of the conference standings."
Last season, the Lyle/Pacelli boys finished third in the SEC with a 6-4 record. This will be the 10th season for Buntje coaching the L/P boys golf team.
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With the wet conditions around the Austin area, the schedule has been altered in the opening week. Monday’s scheduled home date with Glenville-Emmons at the Ramsey Course near Austin has been moved to a road meet at the Northwood (Iowa) Country Club.
LYLE/PACELLI BOYS GOLF
ROSTER
Seniors — Matt Buntje, Justin Hutchinson, Nathan Fett. Junior — Alex Brennan. Sophomores — Dylan Fett, Michael Kline, Max Brennan, Garret Jenkins.
SCHEDULE
(Home meets at Ramsey)
Apr. 3 — at Houston, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 6 — at Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m.
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Apr. 14 — LeRoy-Ostrander, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 16 — Houston, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 17 — at Mabel-Canton, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18 — at Blooming Prairie Invitational, 9 a.m.
Apr. 20 — at Lanesboro, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 23 — at Stewartville Invitational, 2 p.m.
Apr. 24 — Glenville-Emmons, 4:30 p.m.
May 1 — at Southland Invitational, 3:30 p.m.
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May 4 — at LeRoy-Ostrander, 4:30 p.m.
May 8 — Mabel-Canton, 4:30 p.m.
May 11 — Lanesboro, 4:30 p.m.
May 15 — at Southeast Conference Meet, 9 a.m.
