By Bond Brungard
Jim Nee, who coaches Newburgh’s boys’ golf, has reasonable expectations that the Goldbacks will finish above or around .500 this season.
“I think we should compete,” said Nee.
And the Goldbacks are expected this season to be guided by Mark Yan, seventh-grader, who shot a 38 and a 36 prior to facing O’Neill at the Powelton Club Thursday.
“I knew of him,” said Nee, of Yan before he joined the Goldbacks for his first varsity season.
The Goldbacks made it close against O’Neill but lost 229-236, as Yan and O’Neill’s Andrew Bagley were tied for the lead with a 39.
“He’s always solid,” said Nee, of Yan.
Newburgh dropped to 2-3 with the loss. Sam Ouhaj shot a 43, tied with O’Neill’s Dom Farina. Mike Cahill and John Matthews shot a 49 for Newburgh. Connor Leggett rounded out Newburgh’s lineup with a 56.