ON THE SPOT: Silver Creek golf

By MATT CRESS
Matthew.Cress@newsandtribune.com

April 19, 2008 01:00 am

— If the Silver Creek boys’ golf team is going to step out of Floyd Central’s shadow, this might be the year to do it.
With an experienced and talented group that coach Joe Ledbetter said might be the most talented he’s seen at the Sellersburg school in a preseason interview, this year’s Dragons have already beaten the two-time defending state champion Highlanders this season and appear to be an early favorite in the postseason.
With big-hitting senior Joey David and the balance of juniors Brandon White and Michael Seaton in the lineup, it’s tough to envision Silver Creek playing bad golf and tougher to envision them not having fun.
As part of its continuing “On the Spot” series, The Evening News and Tribune found the threesome at their home away from home — Hidden Creek Golf Club — to discuss their favorite meltdowns, beating Floyd and the pantheon of golf movies.

QUESTION: So what’s it like to have your coach say this might be the best team he’s had in 17 years here?
BRANDON WHITE: “He’s mentioned it to us a few times and truthfully I guess it adds to the pressure. But it gives us something to shoot for.”
JOEY DAVID: “I think it’s motivating to know we can be the best that Silver Creek has ever had, and that we’ll have a chance to go as far as any team Silver Creek has ever produced.”
Q: Why all the hype?
MICHAEL SEATON: “Over the summer, four of our top six worked out here (at Hidden Creek) pretty much every day.”
Q: This wasn’t your home course before?
SEATON: “No, we were at Speed.”
DAVID: “We saw improvement as soon as we started playing here.”
SEATON: “It’s the first year we’ve been at a course with a driving range, so we could work on some shots without actually playing.”
Q: I have some great memories of Speed. Hitting it into the chain-link fence on No. 7. Hitting cars on No. 4. What’s golf without property damage?
SEATON: “I haven’t taken out any vehicles that I know of. A couple years ago, a guy hit a windshield of a passing car. It was pretty funny.”
DAVID: “On five, I hit it over the railroad tracks and I’m pretty sure I hit a car. They kept going like nothing happened, so I can’t be sure. Whatever it was, it was loud.”
Q: So Joey’s the big hitter, Brandon is the top scorer and all that. Do you guys have clearly defined roles?
SEATON: “I don’t really have one...”
WHITE: “Coach says I’m consistent, which is all that anyone can try for, I guess.”
SEATON: “What makes us a good team is that we’re very competitive with each other. It’s not just one person out there shooting low. We push each other pretty hard.”
Q: You guys should come up with a signature introduction or something ...
WHITE: “We just walk out and shake hands. We are pretty low-key.”
DAVID: “Yeah, there aren’t any spotlights out here. We can’t really do the dance from ‘Remember the Titans.’”
Q: (Imitates dance from “Remember the Titans”).
WHITE: “We better win if we do something like that. That’s all I have to say.”
Q: So what’s it been like to play in the shadow of a giant program like Floyd Central? Do you root for them, or do you wish they’d finally lose in the postseason?
SEATON: “Once we’re out, we root for them. They’re from around here, they’re in our sectional, so it helps us all when they do well. Really, when we play them, it’s just business. But we could be just as deep as they were last year if we all show up.”
Q: What’s is it about golf that you guys like?
WHITE: “It’s addictive. You work hard for such a long time to get better. Once you see some improvement, it just makes you want to work harder.”
DAVID: “The improvement is so gradual...”
SEATON: “It’s the hardest sport. Maybe not physically. But it’s the hardest sport I’ve played.”
Q: What are your favorite movies?
WHITE: “‘American History X.’ I don’t really know why. It’s just good.”
SEATON: “Put me down for ‘Caddyshack.’ Wait, no make it ‘Superbad.’ I quote it all day long.”
DAVID: “‘The Greatest Game Ever Played.’ The guys in the movie really looked like they could play. It’s a great inspiration.”
Q: But what’s the best golf movie ever?
WHITE: “Greatest Game.”
SEATON: “Caddyshack.”
DAVID: “What about ‘Happy Gilmore?’”
WHITE: “OK. ‘Happy Gilmore.’ and then ‘Tin Cup.’”

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