VASJ Golf 2021 Season Preview

The VASJ Viking golf season begins in just a few days. The team lost key starter and District qualifier Paul Wise to graduation and will be dealing with injuries to start the 2021 season. The team is realistic and getting near its 14-9 record from 2020 will be a long shot. The team will focus on small goals and improvement in 2021.

The linksmen return three starters from last year’s team, including Patrick Dunmire (Sr.), Samantha Turk (Jr.), and Zac Tizzano (Sr.) Dunmire will play as the #1 man and averaged 44.07 / 91.6 in his 9 and 18 hole matches in 2020. He was medalist a team high four times last year and was team low score six times. Dunmire also plays basketball and baseball at VASJ.

Samantha Turk will play as the #2 man in 2021. Turk averaged 49.4 / 108.2 in her 9 and 18 hole matches respectively in 2020. She fired a 96 in Sectionals last year and just missed advancing to districts by 3 strokes. Turk has had a wildly successful off-season on the NEOFuturesTour, winning eight times and being named Player of the Year in the girls High School Division. She will have a great shot at advancing to Districts in 2021.  urk also plays basketball and softball at VASJ.

The #3 man is senior Zac Tizzano. Tizzano averaged 48.87 / 97.20 in his 9 and 18 hole matches in 2020. Tizzano was the team low score twice last season. Tizzano will be sidelined for the first month of the season as he deals with a shoulder injury. Without a proven 3 man, the team will struggle early in 2021. The hope is that Tizzano can return sooner rather than later. Tizzano also plays baseball at VASJ.

The 4th-8th spots will be secured by Thomas Ridler (SR), Matt Locsei (FR),  Joseph Mascaro (SO), Quentin Shambley (JR), and Arayus Cheeks (JR). Ridler was a late addition to the team and will likely move into the #3 spot until Tizzano returns from injury. Ridler is also on the swim team at VASJ. Mascaro and Shambley each played in one varsity match in 2020. Mascaro is also on the VASJ track team.

“Mascaro, Locsei, Shambley and Cheeks will be thrown into the fire early on in 2021.  We really need them to step up to the challenge. It will not be easy, but we expect them to compete to the best of their ability. The experience can only help them in the long run,” said Coach Dunmire.