Senior golfer Henry Stirnaman has been a dedicated member of the Kahoks golf team since his freshman year. Over the past four years, he’s not only sharpened his skills in the courses but also built strong friendships and memories that will stay with him long after high school.
“I’ve been playing golf since my freshman year, so this is my fourth year playing,” Henry said. “My favorite memory is just being able to spend time with my teammates and advancing to sectionals.”
The team faced a major adjustment after losing one of its top players from last year, but Henry said it only motivated everyone to step it up. “ It challenged us all to fill the spot that was left,” he explained.
While some athletes have pregame rituals, Henry keeps things simple. “I personally don’t have any pregame ritual,” he shared. Instead, he focuses on staying calm and keeping a positive mindset during tough rounds: “The key for me is to never focus on the last bad shot but to focus on the next good one and how to make that one a good shot.”
Looking ahead, Henry plans to continue his golf journey beyond high school. “I do plan on playing golf in college at Lewis and Clark,” he said.
When asked to describe his team in one word, Henry chose United. “Whenever one of us had a rough round, we would always be there to pick each other up,” he said, highlighting the close bond among teammates.
Of all the courses he’s played this year, one stood out as especially tough. “The course that challenged me the most this year was definitely the U of I’s course. It’s a course for a Division I school, so the conditions weren’t something all of us were used to.”
Henry also offered some advice for younger golfers hoping to follow in his footsteps: “Don’t give up. You’re going to fail a lot when you play golf, and you can’t let that bring you down or discourage you. You just have to use your failures as a lesson for next time.”
With his focus, determination, and positive attitude, Henry has left his mark on the Kahoks golf program, proving that success in golf, like in life, comes from determination and teamwork.
