Gateway boys golf coach Paul Doonan understands where his team stands compared to some others in Section 5-3A and beyond.
With a few players who have varsity experience and a majority still getting more familiar with the game, competing for wins in matches is not the main goal right now.
“Our goal is to just get better individually and as a team throughout the season,” Doonan said.
“That’s the main thing. We have a lot of different experience levels, and each are working at their own pace to learn about playing the game, course management and course etiquette, things like that.”
Gateway, which calls Cloverleaf Golf Course in Delmont home for a second season, was 1-2 through a 180-238 loss to Franklin Regional on Aug. 19.
The Gators opened with a 181-223 setback to Plum at Cloverleaf on Aug. 11, but they returned to their home course two days later and beat Penn Hills, 230-266.
Gateway, fronted by the now-graduated Joey Jurczak who averaged between 39 and 40 for nine holes, finished 4-8 in Section 5 play last year and were 5-8 overall with a pair of section wins coming against both Penn Hills and Woodland Hills.
Central Catholic, Franklin Regional and Plum finished tied for the section title at 10-2, and all three competed in the WPIAL team playoffs. West Mifflin, at 5-6, placed fourth in the standings.
“Joey was one of our best players in years,” Doonan said. “That was a big loss. He was so dedicated to being the best he could be and would look to get in any extra work he could.”
Doonan said there are several players on the team now who have adopted that same attitude of improving.
Senior captain Ryan Deselich is back and has been a leader in average (42.5) so far in the young season.
“This is his fourth year with us, and every year, he’s knocked strokes off his game,” Doonan said.
“He was shooting over 50 when he was a freshman, and now he is close to 42. He has the focus and drive to improve on every aspect of his game.”
Deselich said he likes the way the team members have worked collectively to be better golfers.
“We all love the sport, and it comes down to a lot of teaching moments for everyone,” Deselich said.
“There’s so much to learn about this sport. I just want to share my experiences and my knowledge as much as I can.”
Freshman Grant Ostendorf, Doonan said, came in off a summer where he played Junior PGA Golf and played and competed extensively at Rolling Fields Golf Club.
“He is probably our best player now, as a freshman,” Doonan said. “He comes to the program with a pretty polished game already. He has a pretty bright future in junior golf and also at Gateway.”
The Gators’ roster features four seniors, five juniors, three sophomores and three freshmen.
Also back with some varsity playing experience are juniors Ronnie Davis and Mason Winesberry and sophomore Zach Kennedy.
“We have more players this year than usual, and Gateway gave me an assistant coach,” Doonan said.
Paul Doonan Sr. came on board this season, and the son said the father has been a huge lift to the players’ efforts.
“We had the match against Franklin Regional, and for those who didn’t golf in the match — we only took eight — instead of them being home doing nothing, they were at the range (McDains in Monroeville) with him hitting balls and working on some things with their swings. With playing so many matches, it is a real benefit to those kids. We have some kids who are brand new to golf and just got a bag of clubs the day before they started. It is valuable time for them to keep working and have more days of instruction.”
In high school boys golf matches, six golfers in a nine-hole match are considered for the final score, and the top five scores from those six are used.
Junior Chance Wilson, junior Canyon Hines, sophomore Will McGee, senior Troy Boden, senior Reed Davis, freshman Jack Ruefle and junior Alex Hoffner also have golfed in varsity matches this season.
“A lot of guys are progressing, especially in their short games,” Doonan Jr. said. “Especially guys who have never played before, the short game is so tough to get used to. We talk about getting familiar with their putter. We work a lot on the pace of the putts on the practice greens.
“We have stressed to the guys to not get discouraged in matches, especially when playing against the top golfers from the top teams. They can’t compare themselves to the kids they’re playing against. Some of them have been playing for 10 to 12 years, and some play all year round. A lot of them are good golfers, but they also show good sportsmanship and understand and respect some of our golfers who are learning as they play.”
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Beyond this season, Doonan Jr. said the message to many of the newer and less experienced golfers on the team is to simply get out and play.
“Join a club or get a student pass to play at a local course as much as you can,” he said.
“Or try to get involved with the junior tournaments if you are up for it. It is hard to start on Aug. 4 and be able to compete with someone who has been playing all summer. You have to stick with the game.”
