Chris O'Neill needs a State Championship more than ever
Despite being a three-time first-team All-Metro selection and player of the year, Chris O'Neill now wants nothing more than Deep Run to grab a team victory.
“It had always been about winning the state championship, since day one” said O'Neill.
Amidst the impressive titles and the honour, O'Neill feels that had his team grabbed the state championship, his individual achievements would have had no importance in his eyes. The junior at Deep Run High School thus gives his
individual achievements least importance and said that the significance of a state championship has always been much more in every golfer’s heart.
“All of us wanted to win it so much” said the modest O'Neill.
Team Deep Run, also known as The Wildcats, played the State Championship in the month of October and was defeated by a total of eight strokes in the AAA state group. The team carded a total score of 585 after a 36-hole brawl.
“It actually hurt a lot” said the Junior.
The golfer has a remarkable collection of successes that include the likes of Stafford Invitational; boys medalist at the VSGA Foundation Invitational; medalist at the Colonial District tournament; top-five finishes in the Central
Region and state Group AAA playoffs and said that given a chance to trade the state championship title, he is ready to trade any title from his record.
Not that the team performed badly, the team just faced a rather uncontrollable attacking line-up which forced them into an 8 shot deficit loss. Nevertheless, with the advent of New Year, the junior has his hopes up in winning a
team match and believes that the golfers have always enjoyed each other’s company while in a game or otherwise.
“The chemistry is just wonderful” said O'Neill.
With the team spirit to the highest level, O'Neill also added that his practice has never looked like work. Explaining the importance of teamwork in a group, he added that his work has always been so enjoyable that it felt more
like fun.
“I have enjoyed the presence of my group buddies around me more than ever” O'Neill added.
One element of enjoyment was also his friendship with the senior, Jason Schumacher. O'Neill and Schumacher share one of the stiffest competitions on the field while off the field, this turns into one of the best friendships ever.
“He has taught me too much, about life and golf. He’s just the perfect mentor for me” said O’Neill.
For next year, O’Neill will be focusing on duplicating his friend’s qualities of leadership and his ability to motivate others. Although difficult to copy, the man with the stroke average of 70.0 for 18 holes hopes to spend a good
2011.
“I want the next year to be extremely enjoyable” O’Neill said.
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