Young ready to buck the trend

Updated: October 11, 2011 6:58PM

Traditionally, Chicago Public League schools have a hard time competing against the country club kids of the suburbs in high school golf.

Whitney Young boys golf coach Kevin Snider is out to change that, and he’s made a huge impact in just two seasons. An admittedly average golfer, Snider is channeling his basketball coaching to change the culture around the program.

“I’m used to winning and being around kids that want to win,” Snider said. “Bringing that Tyrone Slaughter tradition to golf is what we’re trying to do.”

Last year, Omari Whitmore advanced to the state meet in Snider’s first year in charge of the program. This season, the Dolphins won conference, city and regional championships as a team, missing qualifying for this weekend’s Class 3A state meet by only 12 strokes. Whitmore returns to The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington for the Class 3A state meet Friday and he is bringing freshman Connor Dore with him.

“It was immediate change,” Whitmore said of Snider’s coaching style. “As soon as coach got here, everything was held to a different standard. He doesn’t know how to do anything halfway. He gives 100 percent in everything he does. That’s what he did when he came over to golf. It’s been a complete change.”

Whitmore is the senior leader that Snider needs with a young lineup that featured three freshmen this season. He showed his resiliency at Balmoral Woods Monday, starting out with five straight bogeys before straightening things out and winning a playoff to advance to state.

“He never quit,” Snider said. “He was having a bad day, and that’s what being a senior is all about. He went to state last year and didn’t do as well as he wanted. He really earned this.”

Whitmore knows that the fruits of Snider’s labor will really be felt after he has already left Young, but he knows what will be coming soon to the program.

“They’ve got a good chance of making some history as a city team,” Whitmore said. “He’s trying to build a program. He’s not just supporting this team, he’s giving 100 percent. I love everybody on this team I will forever. I will always have Whitney Young golf team pride.”

That’s the attitude Snider, who requires his players to have personal swing coaches and to play in the offseason, is instilling in the Dolphins.

“We want to be like Loyola and New Trier,” Snider said. “It’s not as hard as people think because people want it here. Connor and Omari grew up playing IJGA golf. Our goal is to take a team downstate. I promise you that we will within the next three years. I feel confidence in that.”

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