TULSA — Spring break is usually a time for rest and relaxation, but for Stuart Drake it may have cost him a shot at a top 10 finish in the Class 6A boys state golf championship.
Drake injured himself during his spring break trip and says that may be a reason he ended up placing 28th out of a field of 88 during the state tournament last week.
“I didn’t do so good,” Drake said. “I had an injury during the middle of the season. I went skiing during spring break, so I missed quite a bit of time. I didn’t get back until conference.”
When Drake did come back from his injury he won the Mid-State conference tournament and was looking to continue his ‘stroke’ of good luck into the state tournament.
However, finding Drake at the Oaks Country Club in Tulsa may have been difficult, because he was keeping the squirrels company most of the day.
“I could’ve hit the ball a lot straighter,” said Drake. “I was in the trees all day. I was in trouble off the tee all day.”
Drake shot a 157 during the two rounds in what was his third trip to the state tournament in three years.
Moore coach Tom Noles was not disappointed in Drake. While he knows Drake could’ve played better he still believes the senior had a solid season.
“He didn’t end as he’d like,” Noles said. “He played good at the state tournament. He didn’t play as well as he’d like to. Overall, he had that 72.5 stroke average. He came back from spring break with an injury so he was out for awhile. Then he won the Mid-State Conference individually, so I think overall he had a very successful year.”
Edmond North dominated the tournament with five golfers in the top 10, including the top three, with an overall score of 570 (284-286). Edmond Santa Fe came in second with a score of 597.
ENH senior Kevin Tway won the individual title with a score of 136.
Drake plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall and isn’t thinking about golf. He plans on becoming a pharmacist.
“I’m actually looking at pharmacy school,” says Drake. “I don’t think I’m going to play.”
That means the state tourney could be Drake’s last competitive tournament of his career.
It may also be the most memorable one.
“It was my last one so it was a little bit different,” Drake said. “I thought I had a little bit better chance this year than any other year because I’d been playing so much better than any of the other years.”
Overall, Drake knows he had a solid season. And to make it to the state tournament three straight years is an accomplishment in itself. But he will leave with a few regrets.
When asked what he would do differently this season Drake said “Well, I probably wouldn’t have gone skiing. Also, I probably would’ve put a little bit more time into it before state.”
Sports Editor Michael Kinney contributed to this story.
Schools
May 23, 2007
Final round
Moore’s Drake wraps up prep career at state event
- Schools
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- Coaches prepare for first taste of Moore War
- Jaguars look to stay undefeated against Lions The Lions and Jags are coming from different directions into this matchup.
- Westmoore faces powerhouse Jenks in second round Westmoore and Jenks square off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Jenks’ Hunter-Dwelly Stadium.
- Lions stil have a shot at playoffs At 3-3 in District 6A-1, the Lions are tied with Santa Fe for the final spot.
- Prep teams prepare for football season Unlike many schools around the state, MHS has not abandoned the old ways completely. They still employ the two-a-day system that used to be a staple of all football teams.
- All-American leaves Westmoore For three years Cox has his Westmoore teammates came close as they made the postseason. But that was it.
- Hayes moving on to new challenge The Westmoore girls basketball coach handed in his resignation last month after accepting a job at Edmond Central Middle School as the assistant principal and athletic director.
- A change of pace Late Thursday night the Moore Board of Education held a special meeting to fill the vacant girls basketball coaching positions at Moore High and Westmoore.
- Final round Drake injured himself during his spring break trip and says that may be a reason he ended up placing 28th out of a field of 88 during the state tournament last week.
- Jaguars soccer coach turns in resignation Robison said his leaving his post after six years with the Jaguars was a hard decision. But one he felt he needed to make if he was going to make the jump to the next level anytime soon.
- More Schools Headlines
