By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
A brutal meet from April 28 sticks in the mind of Elkhorn Area High School boys’ golf coach Steve Fisher when he ponders the 2014 season.
The Elks competed that day in the Geneva National Invitational at Geneva National Resort in Lake Geneva.
Elkhorn posted a team score of 401 and finished 14th of 23 teams. According to Fisher, adversity accompanied golf.
“Those are some of the worse conditions I’ve ever seen for a high school golf tournament,” Fisher said.
Fisher said it snowed for a few holes during the Elks’ round. The Elks waited through a two-hour rain delay that day, and when they did play, did so in the face of heavy winds and driving rain.
Fisher said golfers looked for a reprieve when coaches drove the course, hoping for news the meet would be called.
The Elks went about their business.
“They just kept playing,” Fisher said of the Elks. “They just kept their nose to the grindstone and hung in there. I was really proud of them. It was a rotten day.”
It is extreme to say the Elks endured a rotten season, but they certainly took their share of penalty strokes in a year of rebuilding.
The Elks celebrated their season June 2 at the Walworth County Fair Grounds with a drive-a-thon fund raiser and end-of-season gathering where they distributed awards for their recently completed campaign.
Junior Troy Steinfest is the Elks’ Most Valuable Player. Sophomore Brody Vance is the Most Improved, freshman Robby Meuret is the Most Promising and senior Ryan Fettig earned the Elk Award.
Steinfest turned in a solid and consistent season as a junior.
“One of the things he’s done is cut down on the big mistakes,” Fisher said. “He had a hiccup here or there, but for the most part he was solid all year, a kid that we could count on.”
Steinfest finished with an 87.75 stroke average for 18 holes in Southern Lakes Conference play and earned Honorable Mention All-Southern Lakes Conference honors.
Vance joined the golf team later than his teammates.
“I think he was just kind of finding his place for the first part of the season,” Fisher said. “When he warmed up and hit his stride, he played solid.”
Fisher said Meuret played in most of the Elks’ junior varsity meets.
“We’re looking for him to help us down the road,” Fisher said.
The Elk Award is one given for largely intangible qualities, such as work ethic and dedication. Fisher said Fettig filled the role as the Elks’ “lunch pail guy.”
“He works hard,” Fisher said. “Whatever spot you’d like to put him in, he’s there and ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
