'We'll be competitive': Parsons ready to lead Cheboygan boys golf in first season as coach
CHEBOYGAN – Earl Parsons isn’t your average golfer.
Throughout his career, he’s shown that’s he’s pretty darn good at the sport.
But what the former Northern Michigan Open champion also likes to do is teach young golfers and watch them develop their game. This spring, Parsons will have a unique opportunity as he takes over in his first season as Cheboygan varsity boys golf coach.
“I’m looking forward to it. I think I have a lot to offer the kids with my golf background and my coaching experience that I’ve got,” Parsons said. “I’ve got eight kids and they’re all good kids that are willing to learn, so that makes it that much more fun when you’ve got kids who want to listen and learn.”
Parsons takes over for former coach Tim Reed, who guided the program to success during his tenure. While yielding a solid team is important, so are life lessons on the course, something Parsons is preaching to his players.
“I tell kids that this is a sport they can play for the rest of their life,” Parsons said. “The goals are to be a better player than you were yesterday, and a better player tomorrow than you were today, and you learn a lot about yourself on the golf course. A lot of life lessons are learned on the golf course.
“I want to take this program and make it competitive.”
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As a new season begins, Parsons likes the look of his squad, which lacks experience but has plenty of potential.
“What I like is they listen,” Parsons said. “They realize that I’m not a bad golfer and that the things I can teach and show them, when they do it, it works, and the smiles on their faces when they see it. I’ve got kids who struggle, but when they see the results can come at practice, doing it right, listening, that’s what I like.
“We’re not going to hang any banners this year and that’s not my goal. My goal is to get these kids to enjoy the game and have fun. We’ll be competitive.”
Cheboygan’s top returning player is Tristan Stead, who competed in many varsity meets a year ago, while the senior trio of Gavin Rose, Caden Gardner and Kaleb Goodrich will each look to progress as the season rolls along.
Rounding out the team are sophomores Jesse Harbison, David Chase, Alex Hudson and freshman Jacob Pluszcynski.
Chiefs open season with home invitational
Cheboygan opened its season by hosting its invitational at the Cheboygan Golf & Country Club on Monday.
The Cheboygan boys (421), who finished 13th, were led by Rose’s 98 and Stead’s 99, while Goodrich and Gardner each posted a 112, Pluszcynski carded a 117, and Hudson finished with a 119. At the junior varsity level, Chase shot a 145 and Harbison tallied a 146 for Cheboygan.
Charlevoix (334) won the team title. Sault Ste. Marie (339) was second and Boyne City (341) earned third.
Winning individual medalist honors was Harbor Light’s Vaughn Henegan, who fired a 72.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Parsons set to guide Cheboygan boys golf team in first season
