By Stephen Smoot
For years, Pendleton County Middle/High School’s golf squads for both varsity and middle school have grown under the watchful eye of Charles Burgoyne. His steady leadership and encouraging style of coaching helped to bring more kids out to Fisher Mountain each year to either test their skill or try their luck.
For not a few, their ability rose significantly from “try your luck” to “test your skill.”
The first high school of the new school year match took place under mixed sun and clouds. The breeze blew gently, but the temperatures in the mid to high 60s made one think the trees should boast red, orange, and yellow, instead of green foliage.
As players and coaches streamed in from all over to join the Wildcats for an afternoon of golf, the new head coach, Mike Eye, brought coaches over to confer. He also showed the huge flat screen television now used as a leaderboard during matches.
Both the high school and middle school squads boast 11 players, a remarkable roster for schools this size. Eye spoke about his senior players, Barrett Cook and Logan Fisher. Cook, who also competes on the Wildcat baseball team, has played throughout high school. Eye praised both, saying, “They are great leaders for this team. Good kids, they do anything I ask and set the example.”
“Alex Adams, the only 11th grader,” Eye says, “is always wanting to help in any way he can.” While Adams, like all players, meets ups and downs on the course, Eye shared that “he doesn’t get discouraged. He gives it his best with maximum effort and a great attitude.”
The sophomore class includes both talent and experience. Dylan Eye serves as one of the top competitors on the squad, alongside Lucas DiFalco and Jax Bennett. Landon Davis, a freshman, excelled on the middle school squad in recent years. Colton Jackson, Blaine Cook, and Hayden Kimble also compete as freshmen on the squad.
Dylan Eye’s game will always be closely watched by his head coach. That’s what happens when the coach is also dad. Eye explained that his son has excelled “since he was old enough to stand and hold a golf club. He’s done fantastic.” Dylan Eye also represents one of the best opportunities for the Wildcats to have a state qualifier and performed well last week.
Coach Eye added that “Jake Thompson on the middle school team is one of the most improved ball strikers that we have.”
Styles of coaching will not change much from Burgoyne to Eye. Both men emphasize that golf should be fun first and foremost. Eye credits that approach for the recent growth in participation that has seen the team “quadruple in size.”
“Success,” Eye says, “comes down to Charles Burgoyne through the years keeping this program going.” He added that “in all the years he was refereeing and coaching, all the things he’s done for sports, he’s been instrumental in a lot of different things. We owe him a debt.”
Burgoyne expressed appreciation for what Eye brings to the game, the players, and the program. He stated that if Eye had not accepted the position, Burgoyne may not have retired. “He’s dedicated to it,” said the former head coach.
Eye also wanted to add another debt of gratitude – this time to his wife, Erin. He shared that “if it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t be able to keep any of this straight.”
Last Thursday, the high school Wildcat linksters competed against Tygarts Valley, Petersburg, Hampshire, Frankfort, and Keyser. On Wednesday, Pendleton County hosted middle schools from Davis, Thomas, and Petersburg.
On Sept. 16, Fisher Mountain will host the Potomac Valley Conference. “That will be big,” said Burgoyne.
