KINGSTON — Last year, then-freshman Viking golfer Stephen Duwe was hindered in playing time by the driver’s education course he was taking at the time.

This season, he’ll again hone his driving skills — only now, they’ll only involve the woods and irons of his golf bag.

“I need to hit more drives on the fairway,” Duwe said, as he practiced at the Kingston driving range last week. “And hit around the green more.”

A smooth stroke and a mid- to low-70s golf game, Duwe leads a young, yet talented group of golfers who make up the Viking boys this season. Though he played at the No. 7 spot a year ago, five graduating seniors opened the door for the sophomore to play the top position.

“I don’t get pressured easily,” he said. “I just love golf. I hope to be No. 1 on the team and would like to play some tournaments and win a couple.”

Vikes’ head coach Tom Harney will lead the group of 11 golfers into its first tournament at Shelton’s Alderbrook Course March 18. With Duwe’s experience combined with a lot of raw talent, Harney said he’s anticipating this year’s team will foster more than a few surprises.

“This group, other than Steven (Duwe), is starting from scratch,” Harney said. “But it’s a talented group of golfers.”

One surprise early on has been the play of ninth grade turnout David Dobson. During the team’s first practice on the team’s home course in Port Ludlow, Dobson shot a low 40 over nine holes.

“It’s like a basketball coach getting a 6’8’’ guy who can play,” Harney said. “Someone who can shoot that the first day — it’s a pleasant surprise.”

Golf, Harney commented, is a difficult sport to practice in the area due to high costs. Most of the players on the team put the bags away come summer and don’t have many chances to dust them off before the following March.

“Courses in our area are very expensive to play,” he said. “They can’t afford to play unless they have a membership or work at a golf course.”

The youthful team will also have to adjust to each set of rules the different leagues it plays in employs. The differences can be drastic.

For example, in the team’s own Narrows league, the highest score wins and players are awarded points for individual hole performance, from 10 points for a hole in one to 1 point for a bogey. In other leagues, the lowest score — and the traditional system of golf rules — applies.

Regardless, the team will field six players per match, and five scores will be counted towards it final score. On a team of no seniors, every point will count.

“We need everybody to play well and practice a lot because we’ve got a lot of young players this year,” Duwe commented.

The final goal, as in any sport, is to get to state. Harney said he believes Duwe has the best chances to succeed into the post season.

“Stephen should definitely have a goal of going to state,” Harney said. “You’ve got to shoot about a 76-76 (in traditional scoring) to make it.”

Varsity team

Trey Andrade

Rob Hancock

Clark Knowles

Chris Renfro

Billy Rhyne

Billy Briere

Stephen Duwe

Evan Faulk

Justin Griffin

David Dobson

Aaron Salo By JOSH FARLEY

Staff Writer

KINGSTON — Last year, then-freshman Viking golfer Stephen Duwe was hindered in playing time by the driver’s education course he was taking at the time.

This season, he’ll again hone his driving skills — only now, they’ll only involve the woods and irons of his golf bag.

“I need to hit more drives on the fairway,” Duwe said, as he practiced at the Kingston driving range last week. “And hit around the green more.”

A smooth stroke and a mid- to low-70s golf game, Duwe leads a young, yet talented group of golfers who make up the Viking boys this season. Though he played at the No. 7 spot a year ago, five graduating seniors opened the door for the sophomore to play the top position.

“I don’t get pressured easily,” he said. “I just love golf. I hope to be No. 1 on the team and would like to play some tournaments and win a couple.”

Vikes’ head coach Tom Harney will lead the group of 11 golfers into its first tournament at Shelton’s Alderbrook Course March 18. With Duwe’s experience combined with a lot of raw talent, Harney said he’s anticipating this year’s team will foster more than a few surprises.

“This group, other than Steven (Duwe), is starting from scratch,” Harney said. “But it’s a talented group of golfers.”

One surprise early on has been the play of ninth grade turnout David Dobson. During the team’s first practice on the team’s home course in Port Ludlow, Dobson shot a low 40 over nine holes.

“It’s like a basketball coach getting a 6’8’’ guy who can play,” Harney said. “Someone who can shoot that the first day — it’s a pleasant surprise.”

Golf, Harney commented, is a difficult sport to practice in the area due to high costs. Most of the players on the team put the bags away come summer and don’t have many chances to dust them off before the following March.

“Courses in our area are very expensive to play,” he said. “They can’t afford to play unless they have a membership or work at a golf course.”

The youthful team will also have to adjust to each set of rules the different leagues it plays in employs. The differences can be drastic.

For example, in the team’s own Narrows league, the highest score wins and players are awarded points for individual hole performance, from 10 points for a hole in one to 1 point for a bogey. In other leagues, the lowest score — and the traditional system of golf rules — applies.

Regardless, the team will field six players per match, and five scores will be counted towards it final score. On a team of no seniors, every point will count.

“We need everybody to play well and practice a lot because we’ve got a lot of young players this year,” Duwe commented.

The final goal, as in any sport, is to get to state. Harney said he believes Duwe has the best chances to succeed into the post season.

“Stephen should definitely have a goal of going to state,” Harney said. “You’ve got to shoot about a 76-76 (in traditional scoring) to make it.”

Varsity team

Trey Andrade

Rob Hancock

Clark Knowles

Chris Renfro

Billy Rhyne

Billy Briere

Stephen Duwe

Evan Faulk

Justin Griffin

David Dobson

Aaron Salo