What to Expect at The Masters
Can Tiger complete his comeback?
By George Mamatas
Chieftain Staff
Golf’s fi rst major championship of
the year, the Masters, is next weekend.
The Masters is one of the most unique
and exciting tournaments in all of golf,
and I am excited to see who will come
out on top. These are my top three picks
for who will walk away with the green
jacket: 2. Justin Thomas
This young star has been playing
amazing golf and will defi nitely make a
run at his second major championship
and fi rst green jacket. At only 24 years
old, Thomas has already made his mark
on the world of golf. With nine profes-
sional wins, I don’t see any reason why
J.T. couldn’t make it ten with a win at
the Masters.
1. Dustin Johnson
Currently sitting at No. 1 in the world
golf rankings, Johnson has had strong
fi nishes at recent Masters with a T6 fi n-
ish in 2015 and a T4 fi nish in 2016. After
withdrawing from the 2017 Masters
with a back injury, I think that D.J. is
hungry to get out there and show every-
one he came to win. 3. Jordan Spieth
So far in 2018, Spieth hasn’t made
much noise, but don’t count him out of
the Masters. Spieth has been a domi-
nant force at the Masters, including a
T2 fi nish in 2014, a win in 2015, a T2
in 2016, and a T11 in 2017. Augusta
National really suits Spieth’s game, and
there’s a good chance he adds another
SPRING SPORTS Lacrosse
Coming off another State Cham-
pionship last year and a 33-5 record,
the Lacrosse team, despite the loss of
many key Seniors, is looking to repeat
its success in 2018. There is defi nitely a
chip on their shoulder as the team was
Continued from Page 12
major championship to his long list of
achievements.
Sleeper: Tiger Woods
Never count out
the G.O.A.T. Tiger
has been looking
really good upon
his return to golf,
and he is hungry
to get back in the
winner’s circle.
Tiger is maybe the
greatest competitor of all time and, if
anyone could pull off this kind of come-
back, it is going to be Tiger. He has four
Masters and has 14 Major Champion-
ships. Tiger is back, and I can’t wait to
see him get out there and compete for
his 15th Major.
year is indeed very exciting. As for the
high expectations, Donaldson takes
them in stride.
“We are looking to make some noise,
as always. There are high standards
that must be met and it is on us to do
everything in our powe r to reach those
benchmarks. We couldn’t be
more amped as a team.”
place fi nishes in 2017, the Golf team
is looking very good. Losing only fi ve
golfers from last year (four Seniors and a
Junior who transferred out of state), the
team is looking to pick up where it
left off.
Senior Quinn O’Leary will be
Track & Field
one of this group’s leaders.
Last, but certainly not least, in
“Players like Brendan O’Rourke
our Spring preview is the Track
and George Mamatas are great
& Field team. Following a strong
players and will help us a lot this
2017 season of three huge wins
year,” O’Leary said. “I’m very
and a fourth-place fi nish in the
excited about the whole program,
Catholic League, the boys are ea-
I’d say we are pretty strong, from
ger to get back out on the cinder.
top to bottom.”
Senior high-jumper Jimmy
Uncertainty about their competi-
Casper, for one, is lit up for
tion going into the season hasn’t
the season. “The team is really
changed the team’s high aspira-
excited to get things started. We
tions:
The Lacrosse team will try to replicate past success
have an incredible long-distance
“It’s hard to say what other
team this year, on top of our already
schools are going to do this season,
ranked lower than Catholic Central in
impressive jump teams.”
because we just really don’t know how
the preseason.
With little lost from last year, the team
good they are until they put their best
Regardless of preseason rankings,
knows what to expect.
fi ve against us,” Mamatas said. “Know-
though, the expectations are very high
“We can’t wait for the weather to get
ing we have so many players returning,
for the Warriors, as always.
better so we can go out and really start
it’s pretty easy to say that we are com-
“We have several positions to fi ll,”
practicing,” Casper added. “I’m fi red up
ing for that State Title, and we are very
Junior James Domnaldson said. “There
to get back to the high jump pads!”
excited to get back out on the course.”
is a lot of young talent waiting for their
It should be a big year for Track &
The Golfers are taking no prisoners
chance to earn a starting spot.”
Field. Michigan has been put on notice.
this Spring. Stay tuned.
The young talent on the team this
B R OTHE R R IC E H IG H S C H O O L C H I E F TA I N
P AGE 9
M A R C H 2018