2008 Woodie Awards
Golf: Team has high hopes for freshman
By: Matt Grover
Issue date: 9/7/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Webster golf team has been no stranger to success, capturing two St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in the past four years.
During that same period, about 60 miles southwest of Webster, in a small Missouri town called Bonne Terre, a high school student also was shaking hands with success, winning several awards and honors for his golf game.
Meet Jake Black, a 19-year-old freshman and Webster's newest golfer. Black joins the Webster golf team after compiling an impressive high school resume in which he was a three-time All-District Team member and was selected to a pair of Dream Teams - an award given by a local Bonne Terre radio station to the best high school golfers in the area.
Before stepping onto the golf course in an official tournament, Black has become an intricate part of the golf team's quest for repeated success - especially in seasons to come.
"We're looking at his success as not just this year, but more towards the future," Webster associate coach Andrew Belsky said. "He's developing and that is going to help us more in the future."
Some might think the pressure on Black is the equivalent of starting a par three hole in a sand trap - a situation where the odds of success are against you. However, Black said he won't be deterred.
"I really don't see it as pressure," Black said. "I feel like I need to do good, but I'm not under pressure."
Black first got into golf around age 11. He stumbled across the sport while trying a variety of other sports, but quickly fell in love with it.
"I really liked it," Black said. "I played other sports like baseball, basketball and football. I liked (golf) more then all the other sports."
After winning several awards and honors at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Black, whose major is undeclared, brought his golf game to Webster citing the school's good reputation, the proximity to home and the competition SLIAC provides. However, the most important reason Black chose Webster might be associate head coaches Belsky and Tom Heyer.
"The coaches are awesome and very helpful," Black said. "They're there if I need to talk to them about anything. If I need help with my golf swing, they're there. They're good coaches."
One thing Black hopes for is a successful start to his college career - not just for himself, but for the entire team.
"I want to play good and try to win a couple of tournaments," Black said. "One of my goals is for the team to win the (SLIAC) Conference and make the NCAA Tournament."
Those goals are within reach if past success follows Black and Webster into the future. One thing is certain, though: the union of Webster and Black has the potential to be a devastating combination for the rest of the SLIAC.
During that same period, about 60 miles southwest of Webster, in a small Missouri town called Bonne Terre, a high school student also was shaking hands with success, winning several awards and honors for his golf game.
Meet Jake Black, a 19-year-old freshman and Webster's newest golfer. Black joins the Webster golf team after compiling an impressive high school resume in which he was a three-time All-District Team member and was selected to a pair of Dream Teams - an award given by a local Bonne Terre radio station to the best high school golfers in the area.
Before stepping onto the golf course in an official tournament, Black has become an intricate part of the golf team's quest for repeated success - especially in seasons to come.
"We're looking at his success as not just this year, but more towards the future," Webster associate coach Andrew Belsky said. "He's developing and that is going to help us more in the future."
Some might think the pressure on Black is the equivalent of starting a par three hole in a sand trap - a situation where the odds of success are against you. However, Black said he won't be deterred.
"I really don't see it as pressure," Black said. "I feel like I need to do good, but I'm not under pressure."
Black first got into golf around age 11. He stumbled across the sport while trying a variety of other sports, but quickly fell in love with it.
"I really liked it," Black said. "I played other sports like baseball, basketball and football. I liked (golf) more then all the other sports."
After winning several awards and honors at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Black, whose major is undeclared, brought his golf game to Webster citing the school's good reputation, the proximity to home and the competition SLIAC provides. However, the most important reason Black chose Webster might be associate head coaches Belsky and Tom Heyer.
"The coaches are awesome and very helpful," Black said. "They're there if I need to talk to them about anything. If I need help with my golf swing, they're there. They're good coaches."
One thing Black hopes for is a successful start to his college career - not just for himself, but for the entire team.
"I want to play good and try to win a couple of tournaments," Black said. "One of my goals is for the team to win the (SLIAC) Conference and make the NCAA Tournament."
Those goals are within reach if past success follows Black and Webster into the future. One thing is certain, though: the union of Webster and Black has the potential to be a devastating combination for the rest of the SLIAC.
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