Following a 2023-2024 State win, the golf team is gearing up for what Coach Mark Veneklasen said will be another successful season.
With an upperclassmen dominant team, Veneklasen said he’s not sure if the team will be able to defend the state title, but will be able to bring down scoring averages with the implementation of new scoring parameters for regional and state qualifications. This year, the OSSAA has transitioned scoring to the iWanamaker golf app.
“This will ensure fans, parents, student-athletes and school officials receive real-time results as they support Oklahoma student-athletes during regular and postseason golf events,” OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson said in a release.
Through the new system, golfers will compete based on both course difficulty and individual player scores.
“What they’re doing is they’re taking the course rating into account, so if you play easy courses and you score well it works to your disadvantage almost,” Veneklasen said. “So, if you play well on a difficult course, obviously it’s a bonus.”
The app will allow both players and their supporters to view athletic directors, coaches and student-athletes, schedules, live leaderboards, player scorecards, rankings and more.
“I think it will work to our advantage, but it’s really kind of a wash in that things have a tendency to equal out by the time you get to regionals,” Veneklasen said.
As a nine player team, Veneklasen said he is happy with the variety and makeup of his golfers.
“When I compared this team to a team I had eight, nine years ago, it’s very similar, so I think we’ll probably be alright,” Veneklasen said.
So far, the team has had one tournament and will compete today in the Mustang tournament and Wednesday in the Duncan tournament.
For more information on the iWanamaker app click here.
