Chargers link up in Hawaii

Spring break presented the Edison High boys’ golf team with a trip it soon won’t forget.

The Chargers traveled to the Big Island of Hawaii on April 6 and played four days of golf on courses at Waikoloa Kings, Waikoloa Beach, Mauna Kea and Hapuna, all resort courses on the Kohala Coast.

Varsity coach Brendan Patch, junior varsity coach Rick Meyers and junior varsity assistant Josh Bammer brought nine players from those two squads on the trip. They were accompanied by four of the players’ fathers as well as Athletic Director Bruce Belcher, whom Patch said helped organize the trip and cooked “gourmet dinners” for the team.

“Having members of both teams attend the trip was exciting,” Patch said. “The trip provided a chance for the varsity level golfers to bond with and assist the JV players and their game.

“We had seniors and freshmen playing together, which also brought in some camaraderie that oftentimes is missing due to the age gap.”

On April 8, Edison played an 18-hole match against Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach at the Arnold Palmer-designed Hapuna Resort course. The Mustangs defeated the Chargers, 398-403.

Sophomore Austen Dailey shot a 6-over-par 78, senior Casey Adams and sophomore Matt Parkovich shot 79s, and junior Tom Moore shot an 80 for Edison.

“All of these were great scores considering the difficulty of the course and playing conditions,” Patch said of a match played in winds between 25 and 40 mph. Other Chargers taking part in the trip were junior Joel Gillin, senior Lorcan Monaghan, sophomore Justin Whitt and freshmen Mike Elmore and Ian Ferguson.

In its first match since school resumed from spring break, Edison defeated Fountain Valley, 196-230, in a Sunset League match Monday at Meadowlark Golf Course.

The Chargers were led by junior Tom Moore, who shot a one-under-par 34, and senior Mike Wolff, who shot 38.

The two teams meet again at 2 p.m. today, with the Chargers hosting the Barons at SeaCliff Country Club.