The boys’ golf team wrapped up its historic season on Tuesday, October 12. After shooting 313 as a team at Denison last week, Hayes capped off the season with an appearance in the district final at Apple Valley.
The team won an Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) championship for the second consecutive season. The Pacers were undoubtedly powered by senior Colin Bibler, who won OCC Capital Player of the Year.
Many pro golfers today such as Bryson Decheambeu and Brooks Kopeka gain notoriety for the long ball, the ability to drive the ball over 300 yards off the tee. Bibler is no stranger to success off the tee, as he hit a hole-in-one for the Pacers during a match August 13 for the Pacers.
“I would have to say that has been my favorite golf memory so far,” Bibler said. “It was very cool because my family and some of my friends were there to see it as well.”
However, he credits his short game as his strong suit.
“I believe my putting can be a very strong aspect of my game when I am putting well,” Bibler said. “Putting can really separate good players from great players.”
Not everything is about accuracy on the green, though. A golfer’s mental game can affect them more than anything.
“The outcomes are important and in other sports we are the fans, celebrating successes and booing failures,” golfpsych.com co-founder Jon Stabler explained in an article about the mental aspect of golf. “Being your own fan and riding the emotional roller coaster will make your performance a roller coaster too.”
Stabler emphasizes differentiating your performance and staying neutral in the mind. Bibler has similar ideology on the course.
“If you start thinking negatively or have a bad hole, you tell yourself to keep switching the channel and move on,” Bibler said. “I believe having a good, positive mindset helps maintain consistency.”
Consistency is huge for Bibler, and the sport of golf as a whole. He shot an average of 74.75 in divisional play, trailed by fellow Pacers Brady Gazarek (75.25) and Mark Sulek (76.75), who were his closest competition for Capital Player of the Year.
The Pacers benefited from having a lineup of several players who can maintain low scores. Depth and strength in a team can be invaluable in any sport, but can be rare in individualized sports.
“We are always cheering each other on during our events to play well,” Bibler said. “We also push each other to get better and are always competing against one another.”
While the Hayes golf season is over, it isn’t the end of competitive golf for Bibler. In September, Bibler announced his plans to attend Otterbein University, where he will continue his golf career on an academic and athletic scholarship.