Junior golfer Jesse Moder got his start by playing alongside his father and grandfather, and he says it helps him become a better team player.
“My grandpa and dad have taught me to be supportive, and it really has helped me to be a good teammate,” Moder said.
This year, Moder has been one of the motivational players on the Baldwin golf team, keeping the golfers’ heads up during hard times and driving everyone to be their best.
“I like to tell the boys that they’re doing well while I’m on the course. I am always trying to pump the fellas up,” Moder said.
Moder’s teammate, junior Logan Siefert, recognizes his character on the course.
“He is always positive on the course,” Siefert said. “He is always a motivating factor.”
Moder’s pre-round routine, which became a team joke this season, gets them ready to compete.
“We all have the same routine of hitting range balls and putting pre-round, but Moder also throws chalk like LeBron before matches,” Siefert said.
Moder is a basketball fan, and he uses his favorite player, LeBron James, to help motivate himself for golf.
“LeBron is the greatest basketball player ever, and his work ethic is unreal. I want to be like him in the golf world,” Moder said.
Though Moder and the team have a great connection with each other, they still have work to do on the course.
“Something we can all work on is our game from 50 yards and in,” Siefert said.
Though the team has not had the success they wanted, they are taking it with a grain of salt.
“Even though golf is an individual sport, we play for wins as a team, so we feel connected at the end of the day, regardless of how we did,” Moder said.
Siefert agreed.
“Everyone on the team is having fun, so we are all handling it with joy,” Siefert said.
Junior Robbie Andrulonis is in his first year of playing varsity golf. He played with Moder throughout the season and looks back at this season fondly.
“The golf season was a really great time, especially ending on a winning streak. Jesse played really well throughout the year, and he’s a great teammate to have.” Andrulonis said.
The golf team finished 3-9 over the season, getting all three of their wins in the last few games, including a win over Bethel Park.
Moder plans to come back to play one more year of golf next fall and hopes to have a big year for the Highlanders.
