Marvin Ridge golfers aim to beat the best

Brandon Katsoudas knows he can play golf at a high level.

The 6-foot, 185-pound, Marvin Ridge sophomore already has a state runner-up individual finish on his resume and has helped his team to a second-place state finish (behind 3A champion, Forestview).

He did that all as a freshman.

The 16-year-old has a one-handicap and average drive of over 295 yards. And his focus is on the future.

“I don’t really think about the past that much,” Katsoudas said. “What happens in the past is done. You’ve got to keep moving, keep getting better, or other golfers are going to pass you.”

Katsoudas is a key player on a Mavericks team that’s loaded with talent. They finished second to Porter Ridge last year in the Southern Carolinas Conference (SCC) before winning the SCC tournament and 3A Midwest Regional titles.

Junior D.K. Kim – the SCC Player of the Year last season with a nine-hold stroke average of 37.1 – also will play a key role, along with senior Trey Blood and sophomores Tyler Brown and Colton Naslund.

Kim tied for eighth at the state meet with back-to-back 74s; Blood tied for 17th, and Naslund shot a second-day 73. Brown, who didn’t make the Mavericks’ team last year, has been the low Marvin Ridge player at several meets this season.

“It’s really nice to have 5-6 guys who can go low in any round,” Katsoudas said. “If three go low, then we are pretty much good to go. That takes a lot of pressure off of each player and allows us to go out and just play. ...”

Marvin Ridge will have some adjustment to a new head coach as Josh Clendenin enters his first year as a high school golf coach. Clendenin spent most of his career as a football coach, where he helps the Mavericks as the tight ends and special teams’ coach.

But what Clendenin lacks in golf experience, he makes up for with intensity and focus, both in practice on their home course at Firethorne Country Club and in each match.

“I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself to help keep this team playing at a high level. ...” Clendenin said. “Our goal is definitely to get back to Pinehurst (state championships) in May and have a shot to win it all.”

The Mavericks were close last year, just five shots behind Forestview.

To get ready, Clendenin has made a brutal nonconference slate, and the Mavericks have already shown they are up to the task with wins over Ardrey Kell and Charlotte Country Day.

“If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best,” Clendenin said. “We have to be able to play at a high level consistently.”