It's tough to replace a league champion.
But that's the task facing Fremont golf coach Phil Kelly as he leads the Indians into the 1996 spring season.
Clemente Gonzalez was a two-time league champion for Fremont who has graduated. Kelly is looking for someone to take Gonzalez's place, but he's looking at a young crew.
"We're still young and improving," Kelly said, indicating it may be a rocky season for the Indians in the tough Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.
But juniors Mike Benkoski, Chris Brierton, Sean Blaschke and Mike Stahmer all return from last year's squad to join junior Bryant Robles and sophomore Brendon Bartholomew on the Fremont squad. Brian Jones is another promising sophomore at Fremont.
The Indians have started slow in 1996, despite a couple of solid efforts by Benkoski.
Benkoski fired a 47 and Brierton was close behind at 48, but Fremont dropped a 204-275 decision to Monta Vista at the Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course last week. Shahmer came in at 50 with Blaschke carding a 58.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, March 20, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.