It”s all about the competition for the Heritage Academy golf team.
In a sport where the success of multiple players helps the team accomplish more, the Patriots have relied on contributions from each of the top players in their lineup as well as the improved play of individuals outside the top four.
When you add it all up, it”s no surprise Heritage Academy has won four tournaments in a row entering its home event today at the Columbus Country Club. Heritage Academy, New Hope, Starkville Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Magnolia Heights, and Pillow Academy teed off at 10 a.m. today in a shotgun start and are expected to finish at 2:30-3 this afternoon.
As good as his team has been playing, Heritage Academy coach Ed Lott knows today”s tournament is just another step on a journey he hopes will end with a state championship.
“I think everybody”s attitude has helped,” coach Lott said. “They can make a 10 on the first hole and they look at it and say, ”I have 17 more holes to make up those shots.” Their competitive nature and their ability to focus shot by shot (has been a key). I try not to get in their way.”
Cade Lott, who is the nephew of coach Lott, credits the addition of J.R. Wright, of Hatley, and Evan McElrath, of Caledonia, for bolstering the team”s depth. Combined with Caleb Westmoreland, the team”s only senior who will attend Delta State in the fall on a golf scholarship,
Konrad Vernon, and Hunter Anderson, the Patriots use practice to push each other to get better.
“It s pretty competitive,” Cade Lott said. “We like to beat each other.”
Lott has been surprised by the team”s success. He believes the team has plenty of talent and feels the focus on practice and the desire to improve every day has fueled the team”s recent success, and its goal to keep winning.
“Everybody being competitive (in practice) makes you better,” Lott said. “We set out to win every tournament. If we don”t win it, we come to practice and try to get better. The last four have been lucky. We have been playing good.”
Coach Lott said the top four players have been playing “unbelievable.” He feels the team can play better and reach even par.
“Last year, we won one tournament and I knew we had the ability to be a good team, I just didn”t think the younger people would step up,” Lott said. He echoed the addition of Wright and McElrath for providing quality depth that has often kept all of the Patriots in the low to mid 70s.
Lott hopes his team will have another day like that today.
“We still have a long way to go,” Lott said. “It is all for naught if we don”t do anything in the North Half (or finish in the top four to move on to the state meet). We”re shooting to win the North Half and to move on.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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