 SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The 2010 College of the Canyons men’s golf team is every coach’s dream, and COC head men’s golf coach Gary Peterson is saying, “don’t wake me up.”
Finishing in third place overall in the Western State Conference last spring and rounding out the state championships in sixth place, the 2009 season was a disappointment for Peterson. For a coach with five state championships under his belt, anything other than a sixth title is simply unsatisfying. He is not the only one who feels this way.
Sharing Peterson’s hunger for success are the players themselves. This is a team that not only has the insatiable desire to win, but also the work ethic to make it happen.
On a recent trip to Bakersfield for the Larry Carr Invitational, the golfers could have just relaxed at their hotel after a long day of travelling. Instead they told Peterson that they wanted to practice. So, they found a lit driving range where they could work on their swings for two and a half more hours. They woke up at 5:30 a.m. the next morning and “blew everybody away,” as Peterson describes.
“I never have to say ‘Let’s do this; let’s do that,” reveals the coach. “They are all self-motivated. More than anything else they want a state championship.”
“Golf is unusual because we spend so much time together,” Peterson says. A typical day will consist of being together for about 18 hours. Fortunately this year the team is made up of “really nice guys that get along really well. Plus they’re all great players.”
So, for Coach Gary Peterson, it really is a dream come true.
Sophomore Ryan Weltig is this year’s only returner, but that is just fine with Peterson.
“That means I have five guys coming back next year,” he says, adding, “And Ryan Weltig is not just a returner. He’s an All-State returner.”
Joining Weltig on the carpet are Collin Wheeler of West Ranch High School, Alex Macaluso of Valencia High School, and Dino Giacomazzi of Seaside High School, all of who received All-CIF and All-State accolades.
Dominic Lingua of Crescenta Valley High School led the team during the Larry Carr Invitational on February 1-2 where the Cougars took first place, beating Ventura College by 19 strokes.
Peterson is confident that “the numbers shot at the invitational would win the state championship every time.”
The Cougars may expect challenges from Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Glendale. From what Coach Peterson has seen so far, they have what it takes to be the dominant force in the Western State Conference.
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