The San Luis Obispo Varsity Golf Team stands tall and unified after another outstanding win for the 2026 season. Photo courtesy to the SLOHS Golf Instagram page.
On February 27, the San Luis Obispo High School boys golf team traveled to the Central Coast Invitational at Santa Maria Country Club, where they delivered an impressive performance and placed first out of eleven teams. The team narrowly secured the victory over Arroyo Grande High School, finishing just two strokes ahead of the second-place Eagles. Leading the way for the Tigers was SLOHS junior Alex Sincoff, who shot an outstanding 71, helping clutch the team’s win and showcasing a strong performance on the course.
After the Central Coast Invitational on Friday the February 27, the Tigers went up against Edison High School and came out undefeated (still waiting on the scores). On Thursday, March 5, SLOHS played AG, which put the Tigers in first place in the league. Then, on Friday, March 13, the Tigers took on Salinas High School and finished with a solid team score of 377. Senior Michael Shepherd had a fantastic round with a score of 70, and Alex wasn’t far behind with a score of 71.
“The strongest part of my game is driving. I hit the ball around 310 yards and my normal ball speed is around 172-175 which is the same as the PGA Tour average,” said senior Michael Shepard.
This is very impressive, considering the sport requires a high level of focus, consistency, and time to reach that level. Hitting drives of around 310 yards with an average ball speed of 170 mph is elite and comparable to the performance level of a Division II athlete in other sports. Michael Shepherd has demonstrated that level of skill and is committed to play golf at Sacramento State University.
“For a high-pressure shot late in a tournament, it is very easy to let the nerves take over, but I just like to focus on breathing and knowing that I’m capable of any shot or situation I may be in,” said junior Alex Sincoff.
Every stroke in golf is important towards a final score, and one stroke may be the difference between a win and a loss. Practicing is key to success, and the team has been putting in the work.
“I’d say the biggest impact is the work they’re putting in. So when they’re using our two hours of practice effectively and practicing with a purpose, we see a lot more improvement than if you’re out there just hitting balls. It’s not about how many golf balls you hit, or how many times you do it, but that you’re doing it during practice, that’s what leads to better performance and improvement,” said golf coach Danny Prodoehl.
The SLOHS boys varsity golf team has had a great season so far, and it’s exciting to see where the season will take them. The team’s success will hopefully carry through to CIF this year, and take home the win for the Tigers!
Sources: pga.com
