The Oxford High School men’s golf team rounded out the 2012 season in very good form, finishing second in their league and sending three players to regionals and one player to the state tournament. Oxford closed their regular season 7-2.
Coach Terry Kelley said his team had a ‘pretty fair season,? and that ‘his boys played well.?
Oxford narrowly missed the regional cut by two strokes, finishing sixth in the district. Despite the loss, three Wildcats qualified for regionals. Nick Hocker and J.J. Lewis both shot 77, and Chris Brooks shot 78 and survived a four-hole playoff to advance to regionals.
OHS senior Nick Hocker shot 72 in his regional outing on June 7, the second lowest score in the entire tournament. He now advances to the state tournament on June 15 as the lone Wildcat qualifier.
Coach Terry Kelley was proud of Hocker who has ‘worked very, very hard to improve his game. He’s a fine young man and golfer,? the coach said. Along with junior J.J. Lewis, Hocker has been named to the OAA all-league team for his fine work on the links.
Hocker has a balanced game, according to Coach Kelley. ‘Kids today hit the ball so much further than they used to even five years ago,? the coach said. Nick is no exception, and complements the length of shot with accuracy, the coach said.
Nick has ‘a good iron game as well, is a good putter . . . (he) doesn’t panic, doesn’t get angry,? and is adept at ‘getting himself focused,? an essential attribute for success in golf. Hocker heads to Adrian College in the fall.
This is a bittersweet time of year, the coach admitted. He said he had a good bunch of seniors this year, ‘guys you want to hang with. We’ll miss them, not just their scores,? Kelley said wistfully.