When Jack Egan played with strangers at the Park City Golf Club this summer, the Park City High School senior would hold his own. The strangers would prod Egan, asking him how his local high school program had done in recent years.
“Oh, well, we’ve won four in a row,” he would tell them.
And that was it. Egan didn’t elaborate.
Therein lays the success behind the Park City boys’ golf squad, which has raised a 3A state trophy each of the last four seasons. Despite dominating the golf scene of late, the Miners continue to play the underdog card.
The seniors, who own multiple state rings, are coy. The head coach, who has helped Park City create a dynasty, said some of his players struggled at tryouts.
“Everybody is gunning for us,” said head coach George Murphy. “I know that for sure, but we welcome the challenge. It’s a good spot to be in — I’d rather be the one the rest of the state is trying to take down instead of us trying to chase.”
Tied for fourth all-time in Utah high school golf for consecutive state championships won, this year’s Miners will be deep. According to Murphy, they could be the most talented group he’s ever seen. Returning from the 2011 title-winning team are Egan, 3A individual state champion Justin Shluker, Adam Eisenbarth and Harry Hanskat. Also returning are contributors Jackson Rogers, Colton Kissell, TJ Mayo and Tommy Halsey.
And the rich are getting richer.
Murphy said Jalen Roberts, a sophomore region medalist who competed at Stansbury High School in Tooele last year, has moved to Park City and is vying for a spot on the team. Murphy also said a couple promising freshmen are in the fray.
“They know it’s tight,” he said. “There are kids trying to fight for spots here. We’re going to have kids fighting for this year’s state team as well. I love seeing how competitive they are with each other.
“I’m not going to say the biggest challenge will be our own team, but we’re going to have some depth this year.”
Shluker said defending the program’s unprecedented run as well as his individual state title are atop his list this season. Knowing the 3A field would be aiming for him, Shluker spent a majority of his summer playing at tournaments all over the country.
“We just have to go out and pretend like nothing ever happened before,” he said. “We take it one year at a time and go out with the same goal each time, and that’s to win state.
“I think there’s always pressure on a team like this to do well. Everyone does their part.”
Egan concurred with his close friend and fellow senior, saying that in order for the Miners to win No. 5, the leaders of the team must keep the heads cool while on the golf course.
“You have to work against anger. That’s a big key for us is trying to maintain. It’s golf, and it can go away like that,” Egan said, snapping his fingers.
He said he remembers moving to Park City as a sophomore and seeing the senior class that helped continue the string of dominance within 3A golf.
“That’s what I always wanted to have,” he said about leaving the program hoisting a state trophy. “It’s a big feat we have to accomplish and that’s exactly what we want to do.”
The season is scheduled to being Monday, Aug. 13, at Uintah. Once the varsity roster is ironed out later this week, Murphy said any of the eight players who will travel to each tournament has the ability to place as high as No. 1.
“I want them to just go into the season fighting for it and setting the tone from the first tournament,” he said. “If they’re overconfident, they’re going to get humbled really quick.”
Being overconfident doesn’t seem like it’s been a problem for the program the past four years. Since 2009, the Miners have continually been asked the same question: Can they do it again? Ask them and they’ll tell you it’s too early. They’re just ready to play golf.
“This is the only reason we want school to start,” Shluker said. “It’s the best team in the world to be on and we couldn’t ask for more.”