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Boys Golf: North Shore’s McCall lets it rip over the summer
North Shore Country Day School's Nick McCall hits out of the sand on 17 during the final round of Saturday's IHSA 1A state final tournament held at the Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington, Illinois. North Shore won the team championship, the first in
Updated: July 15, 2012 2:30PM
As a young player, Nick McCall made sure to work on his short game.
He worked hard to perfect his shots around the green and his putting once on it.
Now, the North Shore Country Day rising senior is concentrating on power, specifically hitting the ball as far as possible off the tee.
“When I was younger, I was small and skinny,” said McCall, the Raiders’ best player on last season’s club that won the program’s first state championship. “But I always envied people who hit the ball a long way. Working on my swing and working out six days a week has improved my distance.”
At an AGJA tournament last week at Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, McCall said he hit three drives of at least 350 yards.
“That extra distance really makes the game a lot easier,” he said. “I now have irons into par-5s and short irons into par-4s. It helps out so much.
“But it has taken away from my short game because I still practice that, too.”
In East Moline, McCall made the cut and tied for 38th after rounds of 74-78-77.
“I did OK,” he said. “I didn’t play how I wanted to, and I know I could have played better. I was a little off because of finals and not much practice.”
Other tournaments on McCall’s summer schedule include the Western Junior Amateur on June 18-22 at the Country Club of Florida. Later this month, McCall tees it up at the Illinois State Junior Amateur at Makray Memorial.
“This is a pretty big summer for me,” said McCall, who wants to golf in college and is looking at schools in the Patriot League. “I’m been working so hard at my game.”
North Shore returns its four top finishers from last season’s Class 1A state tournament. Senior David Blechman, senior Andrew Bedford, junior William Skinner and sophomore Andrew Blechman all are back.
McCall led the Raiders by finishing fifth at state with rounds of 76-78.
“Last year, I was pretty bummed out about my play,” he said. “This year, I intend on doing much better. I think I can make a run at a state title and so can our team.”
