Preseason Primer: Adams discusses the season

Published 3:58 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2016

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS LONG RANGE: Tucker Mooring swings for the fences in a match last season. The recent NC Wesleyan signee looks to guide the Panthers to another state championship appearance in this his senior year.

DAVID CUCCHIARA | DAILY NEWS
LONG RANGE: Tucker Mooring swings for the fences in a match last season. The recent NC Wesleyan signee looks to guide the Panthers to another state championship appearance in this his senior year.

PINETOWN — The bar is set pretty high for Northside golf. The Panther are fresh off last season’s first-ever trip to the state championship, where they placed 11th out of 12.

The future looks bright, though. Trenton Clayton was the lone player graduated from last year’s group. The Panthers had a young corps of four freshmen last year that brings maturity and experience into this season.

Things got off to a good start with a win in Monday’s season-opening match. Newcomer Bryson Radcliffe managed to top Panther senior and NC Wesleyan signee Tucker Mooring, who will undoubtedly be relied upon as the leader this year.

Here’s what first-year coach Jared Adams had to say about this season:

 

On where the team left off last year:

“That was the first time the team had qualified for states. They didn’t do well, but they didn’t finish in last. … It was, more or less, a learning experience last year, making states for the first time. Hopefully this year we can place a little better.”

 

On the different talents of Northside’s golfers:

“A lot of the players have different skill sets. Some are really good ball strikers, some have really good short game, some are really good putters. We’re trying to piece those skill sets together to shoot a low round that it takes to be a quality golfer and to compete at a high level.

“Tucker is a quality golfer. He’s been on for four years. I expect him to lead the team. Riley Vanstaalduinen, he’s a sophomore, I know that he can improve this year. Last year he was averaging around 80 as far as overall score. I hope he improves from that. Bryson, in the past, just played basketball. He played with his dad on the weekends and we talked him into coming out. I’m expecting him to be an asset to the team this year.

“Evan Corneluis, he’s a junior this year. He’s improving a lot. He didn’t do as well at the match (Monday) because his short game was getting to him. But, his ball striking has improved.”

 

On his first season coaching the team:

“Well, coaching basketball, I’m already familiar with some of the athletes. They know that I’ve played golf in the past. I’ve been giving them some pointers along the way. They know I’ve played so they’ll ask me things.

“We’re just building a team. Although golf is more of an individual sport where you’re competing against your teammates, they can compete against their teammates, but they also want their teammates to succeed and get better.