Posted: 4/13/05
Buck takes over boys golf team, sets expectations high
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
The Forest Lake High School boys golf team may have a new head coach this season, but heís no stranger to the team. John Buck took over the team after Roger Cheyne stepped down as coach at the end of last season.
Buck worked with Cheyne as an assistant and is very familiar with this years returning squad and has high hopes for them.
ìThe quality of the kids as people is really high,î Buck said. ìAs golfers I really believe that weíre going to challenge for the conference and the section championships.î
The Rangers are led by six seniors who Buck believes are ready to take the next step and make a run for the Suburban East Conference and section title.
The seniors include Mark Moberg, Noah Lawson, Adam and Jacob Svenkeson, Evan Dahl and Brad Lange.
Buck hasnít appointed any captains because he expects all the seniors to lead the younger golfers.
ìI didnít single anybody out because I think theyíre all leaders both on the course and in the classroom,î Buck said.
At each event the six golfers golf at the varsity level, but only the top four scores count. Buck feels his top golfers will be Lawson, Lange and Moberg. The fourth spot can be filled by either of the Svenkeson brothers or possibly sophomore Kyle Lewis who played some last year.
ìIím hoping one of them will step up and say Iím going to be the one,î Buck said.î
As the season gets underway Buck is not going to make many adjustments to the golfers swings, but more so their mental approach to the game.
ìAt this point in the season if youíre making major adjustments to your swing youíre not going to see the fruits of it during the season,î Buck said. ìThe biggest part of the game is the golfers attitude and the mental side of the game. My goal is to get them focusing on that more and working on their short game.î
Buck doesnít want his golfers to be content with a third place finish, he wants them to strive to better themselves and each other to push the team to the next level.
ìThis is it for six of them and now is the time,î Buck said. ìI just have to help them with the little things and let them know what itís like to compete as a team.î
When the Rangers get into their SEC season Buck says their toughest competition will come from White Bear Lake, Woodbury and Stillwater.
ìI always expect them to be at the top,î Buck said. ìAfter those three the conference is fairly close and there isnít any reason why we canít compete. I set the bar high, but I always will because you have to have that mind-set otherwise youíll get comfortable.î
Buck did not cut any golfers as he hopes to develop some of the younger golfers into quality varsity golfers. He plans to use the junior varsity team as a developmental program that will help build depth for the team and strengthen the program.
ìDepth is important in golf and this is a way to build it,î Buck said.
Buck has some experience as a golfer as he golfed in high school then in college at Winona State University.
Heís been coaching different sports in Forest Lake for 21 years, coaching football, baseball and basketball.
ìIím having fun already,î Buck said. ìOnce we start competing it will only get better.î
The Rangers next event is Monday at North Oaks at 3 p.m.
Forest Lake Times
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880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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