Althoff looks to reload under first -year coach Wayne Ockovic
Longtime St. Clair Country Club PGA teaching professional Wayne Ockovic has a new job this Fall. And, in his first three weeks as the Althoff girls coach Ockovic has been busy learning everything involved in leading a high school sports program.
Like, for instance, traveling with the Crusaders for road matches and tournaments.
“First of all, it’s been a pleasure working with and coaching these girls so far. They are all great young ladies who are very good students in the classroom,’’ Ockovic said. “We had a match the other day in Alton and I will say that the trip was an experience. They had fun talking and laughing both going to and coming home from the match. It was interesting.’’
What Ockovic hopes will be even more interesting by the end of the season is the improved play of his team. Small in numbers with only seven members on its roster, Althoff has work to do in order to become the team Ockovic thinks it can.
“I think we be a very strong team by the end of the year. But we’re not there yet. Right now, we’re towards the bottom and the only way to get to the top is through hard work,’’ Ockovic said. “There are no shortcuts in this sport. You don’t become good around the greens simply because you want it. You do it through hard work.
Kimbrough leads junior dominated squad
The graduation of four year starters Gabby David and Alaina Irwin have left junior Tia Kimbrough as the unquestioned leader of the ‘16 Crusaders. An all-state player a year ago, Kimbrough has the game and attitude to contend for the state title seven weeks from now in Decatur according to Ockovic.
“Tia was an all-state player last season and I know her goals are as high or higher this year,’’ Ockovic said. “Tia has struggled a little bit out of the gate in her rounds so fat this year. The other day at the Mascoutah Tournament, I think she went out in 47 then shot 37 on the back 9 to end with an 84.
“She’s the type of player who keeps her feelings and emotions under control. By looking at her you won’t know if she is shooting 35 or 45. She’s very even-tempered on the course and just a great leader.’’
Also back are juniors Megan Lewis, Maggie Tiernan and Kendyl Santos. Lewis is a solid No. 2 player, while TIernan is currently holding down the No. 3 spot.
Lewis opened her season with a top 10 finish at the Goalby-Haas Tournament at St. Clair Country Club and has been shooting scored in the mid to low 40’s in the early going. Tiernan, although struggling a bit early, responded with a 39 in a 9-hole match this week.
“We’ve been working with some things with Maggie and it was great to see her shoot that 39 this week,’’ Ockovic said. “Megan (Lewis) has a beautiful golf swing and like Tia (Kimbrough) is long and straight off the tee.
“But the day she finished sixth at the country club she had 24 putts in nine holes. That’s just way too many. The key is our short games and out putting. Every one of these players can and needs to improve around the greens. You need to be able to do two things when you putt. You need to have good fundamentals and you need to develop feel. You do both of those things through hard work.’’
Junior Holly Adams along with Santos, sophomore Annie Pusa and freshman Jilian Pye, will be counted on to add depth for the young Crusaders squad.
This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 12:20 PM with the headline "Althoff looks to reload under first -year coach Wayne Ockovic."