The coach also said all the parents gave great support. Golf is a unique and expensive sport, especially in a resort area, but there\u2019s no course costs in high school golf.<\/p>\n
Additional players on this year’s team included Lila White, Addy Crusenberry, Savannah Stevens, Leah Chesson, Cali Smith, Abby Miles, Alex Brauer, Caba Finch, Piper Lankford, Sara Basnight and Roxie Smalls.<\/p>\n
Basnight, White and Smalls have moved on to basketball this winter, Niethamer noted. He loves golf because it\u2019s a sport you can play for the rest of your life and it\u2019s not a bad place to seal a business deal.<\/p>\n
Niethamer was a professional caddie on the PGA Tour for former University of Virginia star Steve Marino. They went to high school together at W.T. Woodson in Fairfax, Va.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did great on the PGA Tour,\u201d Niethamer said, \u201che made around 10 million dollars.\u201d<\/p>\n
Teaching Golf Etiquette<\/p>\n
In addition to coaching the team how to improve their swings, manage the course and putt better, Niethamer fits in some important life lessons along the way.<\/p>\n
He coaches them not to step into the tee box when someone else is preparing to hit and how to go about conducting themselves over the course of 18 holes. Don\u2019t walk across someone\u2019s putting line on the green.<\/p>\n
A frustrating game, only the best of the best go pro. Most golfers struggle with each round and it takes a lot of concentration.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou shoot a 50 [on nine holes] and last time you shot a 40,\u201d Niethamer said. \u201cIt\u2019s how you deal with it \u2013 attitude is No. 1. You come out with a good attitude, that\u2019s all I ask.\u201d<\/p>\n
Drive, Chip & Putt<\/p>\n
When it comes to girls\u2019 golf at First Flight, sports fans must acknowledge the first player ever, Katherine Schuster, who competed on the boys\u2019 team because there wasn\u2019t a girls team during her high school days.<\/p>\n
She recently graduated from Clemson University and was named to the All-ACC Academic team each of her first two years. Schuster was a two-time North Carolina State High School Champion for the Nighthawks.<\/p>\n
Things first got going for her at an early age when she won the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship at Augusta (Ga.) National.<\/p>\n
Kaitlyn\u2019s father Jeff said that Schuster shares advice and wisdom with his daughter and helps her navigate the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour because Schuster played it too.<\/p>\n
In the end, assistant coach Tom Hogland summed up the year with ease.<\/p>\n
\u201cCongrats on an undefeated regular season and finishing 4th at the state championships,\u201d he said. \u201cThe future is bright and looking forward to next season.\u201d<\/p>\n