San Benito High golf coach Reggie Synegal doesn’t mince words when he talks about his 2013 golf team. With the return of top golfers Ryan Han, Aaron Smith and Greg Moreno, the Balers expect to be at the top of the Monterey Bay League.
If it wasn’t for Palma, that’s exactly where the Balers would be.
“Things are going really good for us right now,” Synegal said. “We are young team and we have a lot of good things going for us. For CCS purposes we are going to be right there. I’m just waiting for the kids to pick up their game a little bit. Having 11 kids on the varsity team, I have a lot to pick from. We are very happy about that.”
The Balers seem to be getting only better. With no seniors on the roster – and it’s top golfers all juniors – the Balers scores should continue to drop, Synegal said.
“They are starting to see just how good they can be,” Synegal said.
Part of that improvement comes from the lowers scores from Moreno and Smith, who both have taken leadership roles as juniors.
“Aaron is a true trooper,” Synegal said. “He is always involving the rest of our kids to make us better. I’m looking for some big things. Moreno is going to carry the team next year. The juniors we have in our program right now are stepping up right now – especially with the younger guys teaching them how to play the golf course.”
And with so many players on the roster, that increased role from the juniors has only helped Synegal, he said.
“It’s just been fantastic,” Synegal said. “From a coaching standpoint they do the job for me. When I’m doing something else I can always count on those guys with alignment and club selection.”
Along with Moreno and Smith, Han has continued his climb to among the best golfers in the central coast. Despite still trying to find his shot, Han scores among the lowest nearly every tournament.
“Everything is getting better,” Synegal said.
But despite all the early success, the Balers still have something to aim for – beating Palma. With a 1-2 record against the Chieftains this year, the Balers aim to claim the MBL throne at the end of the year.
“It’s a rivalry,” he said. “Having a team like that is great. I was talking to some of the kids and if we didn’t have that yes, we would be winning the league but how much fun would that be. The rivalry is great and it makes us better.”
Although, because of the team’s youth it can hurt them at times, he said.
“It means more,” Synegal said. “Overall, it makes us bring our game up. Maybe that some of things we put too much pressure on ourselves. If could be a double edge sword. But as a coach that’s where I want it to be. It’s coming. I really feel it. The guys are playing really well. I think it’s just a matter of time before we are able to do it.”
The Balers will host Palma at 3:30 p.m. April 25 at San Juan Oaks Golf Club. It will be the final meet before the April 29 MBL finals.
