Scrambling For A Title Haymond, Cda Team Rally From Early Season Troubles
To a man, Coeur d’Alene High School boys golfers will tell you they couldn’t have won a state championship without each other.
Oh, the Vikings had a ladder like all other teams, differentiating the No. 1-ranked player to the No. 5 by their scoring averages. More than anything, though, it was used as a batting lineup.
“There was no individuality on the team,” explained Rick Haymond, who bounced between No. 2 and 3 in the lineup. “There was fun competition on the team, but there was none of the I’m-better-than-you attitude.”
Haymond, a senior, teamed with seniors Kerry Latscha and Joe Christensen and a pair of freshmen, Jarrod Batchelder and Joe Duplessis. At the State A Tournament at Twin Falls last weekend, the fivesome captured the first golf title in school history to surpass a runner-up finish by CdA in 1986.
In 1986, Haymond, Latscha and Christensen were in second grade just beginning to play golf. Batchelder and Duplessis were a year away from kindergarten.
Haymond recalled some of the top players off that ‘86 team: John Cook, Travis Thompson, Troy Blood.
While that team had a couple of standouts, the ‘96 team will likely be remembered for its balance.
Latscha, Christensen and Haymond will try to take the sport as far as it will take them. Batchelder and Duplessis, given a couple more years of seasoning, may have the same aspirations.
But none of the players stood out consistently above the others.
“Of the five players, four of them were medalist at least once during the season,” coach Steve Cook said. “And I didn’t throw out one score (of a player) more than twice.”
Going to state, Latscha had a team-leading stroke average of 76. Christensen and Haymond were tied at 78, followed by Batchelder (81) and Duplessis (84).
Cook called Batchelder the team’s “most consistent golfer. He averaged from 74 to 84.” The coach said Duplessis displayed the “best composure, even as a freshman.”
The season with the storybook ending had an inauspicious start, though.
CdA opened with three straight dual losses - one to defending state champion Lewiston and two to Central Valley of Spokane.
“It was pretty rough,” Cook said.
Haymond missed the first two weeks as he fulfilled a school-imposed suspension. In fact, his final season was in limbo after he suffered some academic problems in the first semester.
“My grades started to slip and I didn’t see any hope, so I started skipping school,” Haymond said.
Haymond suffered the consequences. He made a commitment to turn around his life. Through the help of school administrators, he applied for an academic waiver through the state activities association.
He was eligible by state rules, but to be accepted on the team Haymond had to abide by some rules set forth by Cook and administrators.
First, Haymond had to complete an eight-week counseling program. Second, he had to complete two courses by correspondence to fulfill necessary requirements for graduation.
Third, Haymond was given the responsibility of being captain on the team.
“At first I thought I was being rewarded,” said Haymond, who hasn’t had an unexcused absence since his problems came to a head in December. “Then I realized Mr. Cook made me captain so I would be responsible.”
That meant Haymond had to wear slacks and a collared shirt to every practice.
Haymond lived up to the standards, and it’s probably no coincidence that it carried over to the golf course.
In medal-round play Friday, Haymond finished runner-up by a stroke when he fired an even-par 68.
“Mr. Cook has been like a best friend to me,” Haymond said. “He made the commitment to me before I did to him.
“He had a lot of faith in me, in the team. Without Mr. Cook we wouldn’t have won the state championship.”
State was “a roller-coaster of emotions,” Haymond added. “You work 12 years in school to walk 30 feet for a diploma. I’ve played golf since I was 4 (years old) to make that last putt for a state championship.
“The (state) trophy is one-fifth mine. Actually, when you count Mr. Cook, it’s one-sixth mine. No more and no less.”
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