Riverside’s fore fathers
One way to put it is that Scott Rich just got richer.
The newly hired Riverside High School golf coach inherited a boys team that finished fourth in last season’s Class 2A state tournament and returns its two top players from 2004, seniors Andrew Clark and Tyler Morris.
Clark placed 17th at state a year ago and Morris was 19th after he recorded a 73.5 stroke average at the district tournament. And to make things tougher on the rest of the Great Northern League, freshman Cody Stumph is right behind those two, generally shooting in the low 70s, Rich says.
But what’s most notable about Clark and Morris isn’t the level of their game, although that’s pretty impressive. The fact is, there wouldn’t be a Riverside golf program without them – those two, along with their brothers, were the driving force behind the establishment of the program three years ago.
“There had never been a golf team at Riverside before,” said Clark. “But my brother Ben and I, and Tyler and his brother Adam talked with the athletic director, who gave us advice on how to get things going.
“We raised support among the students, then took our proposal to the school board, where we had to speak to justify starting a program. The board agreed to a one-year, pay-to-play trial.
“After the first year, we went back to the board again for funding. We talked about the benefits of associating with professional golfers and of being involved in a lifelong sport. They agreed to fund the team, and we’ve been going ever since.”
Morris remembers that the foursome actually hatched the idea the year before, but it didn’t really take off until he and the Clark twins hit high school. After they got the endorsement of the school board, he felt that he had something to prove.
“After they approved our proposal, I felt like we really needed to accomplish something so that the program would keep going. It means a lot me that despite having had different coaches almost every year, we’ve helped create a solid program which is here to stay.”
Both Clark and Morris have been playing since they were small, both are employed at the Deer Park Golf Club, and both have set their hopes high for this season after last year’s strong finish.
“I feel more confident in myself because of last year,” said Morris. “I’m a lot more determined. Last year in the league tournament, I played four-under for the last four holes at Indian Canyon, then shot a 72 at Hangman Valley the next day to get to state. I feel that I can play like that again.”
“We have big goals this year,” said Clark. “This could be quite the season for us.”
He’s on his way to the University of Washington on a Chick Evans scholarship which includes a full-tuition grant and also money toward room and board. He’ll continue to play recreationally, he says, and to compete in club tournaments.
Morris figures he’ll stay close to home next year, probably at Spokane Community College, to hone his game with the eventual goal of competing in a Division I program. He’ll continue to work at Deer Park, where the golf, the lessons and the range balls are free.
Rich, who was an assistant professional at Indian Canyon for two years in the late 1990s, knows he’s fortunate to have landed with this group. He played at Shadle Park and Spokane Falls before turning pro and hopes to help his players benefit from his experience.
“I’ve been where they are,” he said, “so I’m just trying to make it so that they’re having fun and continuing to learn. My top three all have the potential to get to the state tournament, and maybe to win it. If we’re having fun, we’ll play well and the individual scores will come.”
Whatever happens this year, future Riverside golfers will know who to thank for their opportunities.