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The transition from putting a big orange ball into a hole to putting a little white ball in a much smaller hole has been an interesting one so far for the Northside golf team.

Senior Max Vansant and sophomore Landon Moore were on the school’s basketball team along with coach Jared Adams. It’s only been a couple of weeks since one season ended and the other began. They’ve joined their other teammates in getting in golf shape.

They began the season last week with a third-place finish at Washington Yacht & Country Club.

“First couple weeks, it’s been a little rocky getting back,” said Moore. “But I think I’m just now getting the hang of it, getting my swing back, getting the feel, I think I’m getting back.

“I think a couple of them boys have been playing all winter. So there’s no need to adjust, they’re already here. We got (freshman) Tyler (Radcliffe), he’s good. Max, he’s transitioning well. (0:59) And then Lawson (Goltra), he just came with a broken arm, had surgery.”

Goltra, a sophomore, said he’s feeling better and is working back to being at his best.

“I think the first couple matches we will be able to shoot well but we’ll get better later on,” Goltra said. “I think towards the end of the season, I think a lot of us will be shooting in the 80s.

“At first I was a little iffy about it (playing after his injury). But then I started taking more and more swings and it felt a lot better.”

Radcliffe and freshman Johqwon Jones say they also have been working to be golf-ready and are excited about what lies ahead in the season.

“Yeah, I’ve been hitting the gym trying to get my mental game right,” Radcliffe said. “And a lot of short game, a lot of putts, just make some putts and we’ll do good.”

I’ve been playing good so far, trying my best, try a new sport,” said Jones, who said Radcliffe encouraged him to play. “I like it a lot. Golf is a good sport, I’ve got good teammates here to help me out sometimes.”

Vansant is the only senior — there are no juniors on the squad — on a squad full of talent and potential. He said he was hopeful to make the switch with little effort and continue to play well throughout the season with the state playoffs in mind.

“It’s definitely a different group,” Vansant said. “I’m used to having a bunch of seniors and juniors helping me out. Now I’m helping them out. They have a lot of experience and it’s been fun.

“It’s something you have to work hard at. I’ve enjoyed practicing and getting back to it. If I keep practicing, I can get back to where I was last season.

“Staying mentally checked in … I don’t want to set a bad example or doing something stupid like dropping a club or smacking the tee if I hit a bad shot. Just staying positive is good to show the younger guys.

“Tyler and Landon are doing pretty good and will bring some low scores. I think we should be good this year.”

Assistant coaches Jerry Wynne and Barry Norman have done their part to help the team get ready. Adams believes this season’s team has a lot of potential.

“He Vansant) is gonna start off a little rusty, but always by the end of the season, we get in the postseason play, he’ll be able to get his score down to mid 80s,” Adams said. Which is very competitive at the 1A level in the regional state tournaments. Lawson and Landon, both had very good seasons last year. As far as, at the beginning of the season, they were shooting low 100s and then towards the end of the season, they had dropped their scoring average down to low 90s, between 91, 92, every time they teed it up.

“And so for them, coming into the season, hopefully picking up where they left off, shooting low 90s. I’m hoping by the time end of the season, I can get both of them into the mid to high 80s pretty consistently.

“And golf just takes time, takes time, takes repetition. But we’ve had good quality practices. And having two assistants allows me to break them up and really work on some skill developments, fundamentals in the game of golf.”

Panthers finish third in meet

Northside started the golf season last week with a third-place finish at Washington Yacht & Country Club.

TEACH won the event with a 321, led by Chris Stembridge’s 74, which earned him medalist honors.

Martin County finished second behind Champ Tice’s round of 84.

Northside was led by freshman Tyler Radcliffe, who fired an 85. Following him were Max Vansant (92), Lawson Goltra (93), Landon Moore (97), Bryce Askew (98), Jay Battershall (114), Will Cooper (116), Jahquan Jones (117) and Dawson Rouse (118).