Zach Rozanski displays patience on the golf course. He's not likely to turn one bad shot into three, according to John Brittain, the head coach of Upper

Zach Rozanski chips onto a green during practise on Monday.  The senior is expected to be one of  Upper Perkiomen's top scorers.

Perkiomen's golf team.

            Rozanski is one of two seniors expected to score regularly for the Indians, who are scheduled to open their Pioneer Athletic Conference on Monday against Pope John Paul II at Macoby Run. Juniors Zach Gehman and Soren Svanson are their only other returning scorers.

            "We're in a rebuilding mode," said Brittain, whose team lost six seniors to graduation. "This is a young group, and I don't mind having a young team."

            According to coach, Rozanski should be the team's top scorer. The player relies on a patient approach and a calm demeanor to mitigate mistakes. Rozanski says his father taught him a bogey is better than a triple-bogey.

            "If Zach gets in trouble, he's not going to try and hit the hero shot," Brittain said of Rozanski, adding that the player has turned his drives from a weakness into strength. "He may not always have the best swing, but he's able to turn in a decent score."

            The junior spent the summer working on his game. He played twice a week with his grandfather on local courses such as Raven's Claw in Limerick, Linfield National Golf Club in Royersford, Twins Ponds in Gilbertsville, Hickory Valley in New Hanover and Butter Valley.

            "I improved my putting," Rozanski said Monday morning. "That part of my game has cost me a lot of strokes in the past."

            According to the coach, Rozanski has the potential to qualify for the District One tournament. Developing the necessary consistency against top-notch competition is the key.

            "I need to start strong and keep improving," the player said. "All aspects of my game need to be on point."

            Brittain said the senior shot a four-under par in the back nine at Linfield.
"If Zach can do that there, then he some ability," the coach said.

            Late last week, Rozanski fired a 78 at Raven's Claw, a long course. He said most of his tee shots stayed on the fairway.  "When I do that, it normally leads to a good round," Rozanski said.

            Brittain described Gehman as a player with natural ability who rarely shows his emotions on the course. The coach said no one works harder at his game than Svanson.

            "Soren has done everything we've asked him to do," Brittain said. "Which is why his game has progressed to the point where we are counting on him to score."

            Mike Montero, the team's other senior, is expected to contribute after spending last season on the JV team. "Mike's game has improved immensely," the coach said.
Donovan Hanney, a junior, and Nate Reinhart, a sophomore – both of whom played JV last year – should compete for a varsity spot, according to Brittain.
Reinhart, who is fairly new to the game, relies on natural athletic ability to be good ball striker, the coach said.

            The roster includes a large number of ninth graders. However, Brittain said he isn't sure how many of them will earn their way on the varsity.

            "We've got a good group," Rozanski said. "I believe they can develop over the next four years."