It was a season to remember.
Lakeland High School Sophomore Tyler Zachary placed 7th in state for golf and won districts.
Zachary has played golf competitively for 5 years and for fun for 7 years. He believes the work he has put in over the years truly helped him get to where he is and his place at state.
Zachary started playing gold because of his grandpa.
“On the course, he is dialed in and focused and approaches the game very much like a college athlete,” Assistant Coach Brian Williams said, “
His coaches describe him as a very mature athlete. He works very hard at practice and outside of practice. Williams also describes him as an outstanding young man who is always respectful to his teachers, coaches, and peers.
Williams said his family is very supportive and his grandma’s chocolate chip cookies help him during tournaments. He also said Zachary’s family is very supportive and helps push him.
His family has provided him with opportunities and got him coaches to help further his golf abilities.
Zachary said the cookies helped him win districts.
“He is very focused and wise beyond his years,” Head Golf coach Colleen Hall said, “He makes himself goals and he meets them because of the work that he puts in.”
The coaches said that he recognized his skill at an early age and put in the hard work and effort.
“I had to trust in my game. I played really well the first day and I had a few unlucky breaks the second day,” Zachary said, “I felt like I played really well throughout the tournament.”
With Zachary being a sophomore he has two more chances at taking state. He believes that districts will be easy and that there are some kids down in the south that are good but he will play his best.
Zachary wasn’t the only golfer who made strides this season. The coaches feel as a team they have come in with a great group of players. They said that the golf season has been going great even when just the open gyms were going.
The golfers were going out there and working hard and they are going to continue their hard work and effort through the next upcoming season.
“We are going to state next year,” Williams said.
Williams said he feels as though his team is improving as a whole, but other schools in their league are losing their entire varsity lineup due to graduation.
“It was a fantastic season,” Hall said, “At almost every tournament they were the top 5A school.”
