By Justin Adams | [email protected]

The Herriman golf program has a bright future ahead, if their performance at the state tournament is any indication. 

Its six-member squad, four of whom are freshmen, earned a fifth-place finish at the 6A state tournament last month.

“We’re going to be really good in these coming years,” said Ryker Lind, one of those freshmen.

Lind finished the highest among his teammates, and tied for fourth place in the individual standings. 

Being one of the younger squads helped take some of the pressure off the Mustangs as they headed into the tournament.

“If I shot a bad score, no one would hold it against me because I’m just a freshman. But if I shot a really good score, everyone would just be even more impressed,” Lind said. 

The state tournament was held at the Davis Park golf course, though that was a last-minute change. Originally, it was scheduled to take place at a course in Utah valley, but the course in question had gone through a redesign process and UHSAA officials determined it wasn’t in good enough shape to play on. 

Lind was able to make it up to the Davis Park course a few times during the week before the state tournament. One of those practice rounds he played was with his dad, Jesse Lind, who played collegiate golf at Westminster. He has been Ryker’s personal coach since he started golfing around the age of five. Having your dad as your primary coach has its advantages and disadvantages though.

“Sometimes it’s hard - with a normal coach I wouldn’t talk smack to him and all that stuff,” Ryker said. “On the other hand, he’s always there and someone I can go to.”

Playing through the Davis Park course with his dad the day before the tournament definitely seemed to help, as Ryker shot an impressive score of 66 (five under par). That was good enough for first place through the first day.

Ryker continued to hold the individual lead through the first half of the second day. With a potential state championship in his sights, he began to feel a little more pressure. Then a bogey on hole number twelve threw Ryker off balance. 

“I got really flustered and lost my composure. Everything just went downhill from there,” he said.

Although the defeat certainly stung, Ryker said he can appreciate how that experience will help him in his golf career going forward.

“I went to play with my dad and brother recently and we had a little wager. I was up the whole time, and I was just thinking of the experience at state and it helped me keep my composure,” he said. 

The three other freshmen who competed for Herriman at the state tournament were Elliot Bond, JJ Tomsick and McKay Linford. Seniors Taeson Holt and Clayden Brandon rounded out the six-man team. 

With three more years to play, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lind and his talented fellow freshmen hoist a state trophy sooner or later.