To say that the weather conditions weren’t perfect when the Sedona Red Rock High School golf team opened its season against Chino Valley and Camp Verde on Tuesday, March 23 would be an understatement. Still, the less than stellar weather didn’t keep Sedona from starting its season on the right note.
The players had to deal with cold and windy conditions. And while it didn’t rain much during the actual match, the rain throughout the day dampened the course, making Oakcreek Country Club a little more difficult than normal. But the Scorpions braved the poor weather and got the result they needed. Sedona fired a 197, providing a comfortable margin over Chino Valley and Camp Verde, whose teams shot 231 and 250, respectively, giving SRRHS a 2-0 start.
The Scorpion golfers cruised to victory. Sedona’s Cameron Stewart led the way with a 42 on Oakcreek’s Back 9. Stewart and teammate Gavin Bruce were the only players from any team to break 50.
“It was a pretty strong start,” Stewart said. “The ball striking was really good for the first few holes. I started to get a little cold over the last couple of holes but it was really good for the first match out.”
Dorian Stevens and Robbie Sheehan both shot a 54 to round the SRRHS counted scores out. Zaine Raimonde finished with a 55, which, as is the standard, was dropped as the worst score from the team. Still, Chino Valley’s Trever Stazenski (who shot a 50) was the only opposing player to finish better than Raimonde.
“They’re right about where I was expecting to come in for the first match,” SRRHS coach Mike Webster said. “Especially since two of my players didn’t play last year and haven’t really practiced. I’m happy with the performance and I’m happy that they’re laughing and enjoying it.”
While the Scorpions victory was dominant, it was anything but assured in the days leading up to it. Less than a week before the opener, Webster was only sure that Stewart, Stevens and Raimonde would be a part of the team. While the season still would have gone on under those circumstances, Sedona would have had to forfeit every match as a team, with only the individual scores being counted.
But Sheehan and Bruce both joined the team, giving the Scorpions the necessary five players.
“It could have been a lot better,” Bruce said. “But for the first match out in two years or so, I’m not too upset with it.”
While Bruce didn’t play last season, this was the first match in a long time for everyone.
The 2020 season was canceled at the beginning due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Having a canceled season gave the players an added sense of relief to be back out there.
“It’s good to be back out here,” Raimonde said. “Last season got canceled two matches in. It feels nice to get back out.”
“I enjoy being out here,” Stevens added. “I hope we get to keep the season going and it doesn’t get canceled. It’s fun being out here.”
When the round was over, the Scorpions gathered to talk about how things went. That included a lot of laughter about performance, especially the shots that maybe didn’t go according to plan.
For Webster, that was the most important part of it. Though, the coach did add that if the team can stay intact or maybe even add a player or two, the season could end up as a successful one on the course.
“I tell the guys every year that it’s more about coming out and having fun,” Webster said. “But I’m optimistic for the year. I think that if we stay together and have all five that we’ll probably qualify for state.”
