Mesa’s fresh look

Bryce Alderton

In addition to fielding the best high school boys golf team he can,

Costa Mesa Coach Tom Baldwin enters every year with another task.

Finding clubs for some of his players.

“It’s a challenge, we’re starting from scratch,” said Baldwin, in

his ninth season at the helm. “Most of these kids don’t have golf

clubs. They use our clubs until they get into it and buy their own.

We deal with this every year.”

Baldwin estimated friends of the program donated four sets of

clubs this spring and he even bought a new set of irons for the team.

He said the donated clubs provide players just beginning the game

an opportunity to see if they enjoy the sport before purchasing a set

of clubs.

Those who take to the game generally follow a trend, Baldwin said.

“Almost everyone who plays golf will buy a new set of clubs,” he

said. “It’s something we deal with every year.”

Baldwin has also dealt with losing four of the top six players

from last year’s squad.

Mesa has three freshmen among the starting lineup with only one

returner, senior Robert Angle, who averages in the low 40s for nine

holes.

Freshman Garrick Vohs has impressed Baldwin in the early going,

averaging in the mid-to-low 40s.

Vohs and freshman Eddie Rodriguez have played golf “a little bit,”

none competitively, entering the season, Baldwin said.

Freshmen Jorge Sandoval, Josh Thoms and Chris Wright, join seniors

Troy Wright, a center on the football team, and Joe Freeman, along

with sophomore Stephan Wright and junior Garrett Marshall, among the

varsity rotation.

“We only had 10 kids out for golf,” Baldwin said. “We don’t have

enough for JV [junior varsity] or freshmen.”

The rotation could change frequently as the season progresses,

Baldwin added.

“We usually try a different man each week to give an opportunity

for all the guys to play.”