After bringing home a state championship last season, the Lumen Christi boys golf team faces a new challenge: rebuilding while staying on top. With the top varsity players from last year Adam Fuller, Anthony Kulka and Charlie Saunders gone, most of the team is still very experienced with two years of varsity golf under their belt. The 3 golfers who played in states are back again for more. Carson Spencer, Gabe Cooper, and Brandon Kulka plan to have another successful season.
Now that he has a bigger role on the team, junior Brandon Kulka knows more is expected of him as one of the returning players. “I have to step up, put in the work, and be more consistent in every match with good scores,” Kulka said. He and Gabe Cooper are two of the main returning golfers, and freshman Sam Swihart is a new addition to the team. Even though there’s still a lot of talent, Cooper says there’s more pressure this year. “We lost some big pieces to our team, so it’s going to be tougher to win states. But we will win it.” With strong competition like Detroit Catholic Central and Parma Western, repeating as champs will not be easy, despite the confidence.
The team has been practicing and preparing since January and are finally getting a taste of a real course as the weather starts to warm up. Freshman Sam Swihart said a lot of work went into the pre-season. “We practiced in the simulator a lot during the winter, perfecting our swing before the season started.”
The team practices almost everyday after school, making themselves ready for competition. The boys’ most exciting tournament is the Corporal B Invitational at American Dunes Golf Course, in Grand Haven, on April 24th. This match consists of eighteen of the top high school golf programs in Michigan. The Titan golfers who are playing in this tournament are Gabe Cooper, Brandon Kulka, Sam Swihart, Carson Spencer, and Luke Anderson. They love playing in this tournament, because it pits the best against the best. To do well here really means something. They are looking for a strong showing to propel them along this season.
