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Logan Burks, the team's only senior, and sophomore Jacob Yochum return from helping the Hornets finish second at regionals and 11th at state. PREVIEW: Hornet golf team looks for repeat state appearance By Chris Strunk Last Updated: April 02, 2015 The Valley Center High School golf team is rebuilding in 2015 with a couple of key players from last year's state-qualifying squad. Logan Burks, the team's only senior, and sophomore Jacob Yochum return from helping the Hornets finish second at regionals and 11th at state. They'll be counted on to keep their scores at or below the low 80s for the Hornets to have team success. "Our goal is we want to qualify for the state tournament," said veteran coach Mike McCormick. "That's the big thing. So, we want to be playing our best golf in May." McCormick said the team is expecting good things out of Burks, who signed to play golf at Avila College in Kansas City this fall. "I don't want to put too much pressure, but I think he'll shoot upper 70s or lower 80s," McCormick said. Burks said he appreciates the pressure as a team leader. "It'll be difficult," he said. "But if we can get in the right regional, I think we'll do well. I'd really like to go back to state. It was fun." Valley Center lost three players off the state-qualifying team. McCormick said Yochum played several rounds during the summer and is returning with added distance to his game. Fourteen students are out for the team, including freshman Reed Pierce, who is expected to step in early to help the Hornets. After that, McCormick said, "we have about four guys in a rotation where we'll have to see who's hot and who's not." "By May, I like our chance of finding four scores in the 80s," he said. The state tournament berth as well as the construction of Valley Center's own nine-hole, executive style golf course, practice green and driving range behind the middle school have generated excitement around the golf program that McCormick said will begin paying dividends. Valley Center will get the season started April 6 at Crestview Country Club. The Class 5A state tournament will be at Sand Creek Station in Newton, Valley Center's home practice course. |
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