The FVHS golf team is going to the State Championships after a great performance at the regional tournament. After winning their conference, the Bengals took second place at regionals with a team score of 314. This is a huge win for the players, as they have officially moved from being regular season leaders to some of the best in the state.
For juniors Nate Owens and Tucker Stevens, getting to this point took a lot of hard work.
Owens said he has seen a lot of progress in his game, noting, “My scores in general, like from last year, I’ve gotten a lot better, from the start of the season until now.”
Stevens agreed that the team has found its rhythm at the perfect time because “the team is kind of blended too” from the start of the year until this big postseason run.
Success in golf is all about staying calm, especially when the pressure of a big tournament builds. Stevens explained how he handles the stress of the game.
“You just kind of gotta stay calm the whole time, even if something bad happens, just keep it under control. Just keep on moving along,” said Stevens.
Owens added that it is important to forget about mistakes quickly, saying players should “just don’t think about the bad shot, what you just tip out, focus on what’s next.
The Bengals also had to deal with tough weather, like strong winds and cold air, which can make golf very difficult.
Owens explained how they handle these challenges, saying that “if it’s away, you can have two gloves on, keep contact with it,” and that when it is windy, a player might need to club up to hit the ball the right distance. Stevens added that having the right equipment and making small changes is the best way to play outdoors.
As the team gets ready for the final matches of the year, they are still pushing for big goals. Stevens is thinking about his future in the sport, saying he is “trying to get recruited by D2 and D3 right now.” He knows he needs to “win a lot of tournaments” and “get my name out there” to reach the next level.
Now that they have reached their goal of making it to the states, the Bengals will bring their winning attitude to the State Championships on May 11, 2026.
