Eisenhower’s Tyler Hardtarfer

By Matt Browning

In the rain-shortened 5A golf tournament last season, Eisenhower’s Tyler Hardtarfer shot 78 and finished in a tie for 17th. The Tigers took second as a team, nine shots behind Kapaun Mount Carmel.

Not bad, right?

Not for Hardtarfer, who has big plans for his 2023 campaign.

“I want to finish top five in the state and would love to finish first at one of our invitationals,” Hardtarfer said. “I would like to improve our second place finish at state last year to first place this year.”

With John Loomis taking over the program, Hardtarfer is interested to see what that does for him and the Tigers’ chances this season.

“I am excited to see how are team comes together under are new coach,” Hardtarfer said. “I am excited to see the results of my hard work and dedication reflected in my performance.

Ultimately I want to see my teammates excel on and off the course.”

Saving shots with his short game was the key area Hardtarfer focused on throughout the offseason.

“This season I want to improve putting in particular,” he said “I have been playing, practicing and doing drills nearly every day to sharpen my putting.”

After he graduates, Hardtarfer plans on continuing his golf career in college and plans on majoring in business or finance.

By Matt Browning

Just a sophomore last season, Andover’s Paul Jittawait was a regional champion, defeating Barrett Steven of Bishop Carroll. It was quite an accomplishment for Jittawait, who now has his sight set on a bigger season in 2023.

“Individually, I would consider my season a success by making it back to state and placing in the top ten,” Jittawait said. “A team success would be more unity and also having my teammates make it to state as well.”

Being able to sustain himself throughout a match was key to Jittawait’s development before the season.

“One are I would like to improve is my endurance in tournaments,” Jittawait said. “To work on my endurance, I have been playing multiple tournaments and training for multiple hours each day.”

The Trojans will feature an almost entirely new team this season and that is something Jittawait is looking forward to.

“I most look forward to working with a new team and the new players for the upcoming season,” Jittawait said.

Even though he is only a junior, Jittawait has aspirations past his career at Andover.

“I am not sure my future plans,” Jittawait said. “I hope to play tennis at the collegiate level, but I am undecided beyond that.”