The Trenton High School boys golf team is looking at a trio of players who have been to state in their careers to lead the team in 2017.
Nate Swann, Lathan Croy and Corbyn Guile have all been to the season-ending MSHSAA Golf Championships at some point in their careers and that trio will be leaned on by the Bulldogs this season.
“It’s great to have returners who have been to state and have that experience,” Trenton Coach Travis Mullenix said. “They know what it is like and they have that goal to make it back. Nate and Lathan went last year and Corbyn went as a sophomore (in 2015). It’s just really nice to have that experience and that leadership and, hopefully, it will trickle down to the rest of our team.”
Leading the way will be Swann, who has been to the state tournament in each of his past two seasons. Now a senior, Swann will look to get back to the season-ending tournament where he medaled last year, finishing 14th to earn all-state honors.
“Golf has always been Nate’s primary sport,” Mullenix said. “That’s what he has focused on basically his entire high school career and he is already signed to play here at (North Central Missouri College). He is a treat to have on the team because he basically lives and breathes golf all of the time.”
Swann was joined at state last season by Lathan Croy, who had a breakout year in 2016. Mullenix believes Croy will take another big step forward this season.
“Lathan has grown up,” Mullenix said. “He is longer and taller and he is going to be longer on the course now as a result. He will have to learn to play a little bit further down the fairways. He definitely has a big upside this year. Getting to state last year helped him and I really think he is going to improve more than anybody on the team from last year to this year. I’m looking for big things out of him this year.”
Guile just missed a return trip to state last season after qualifying as a sophomore two years ago. Guile’s season hit an end at sectionals, but Mullenix believes the senior is motivated to cap his career with another run at state.
“Corbyn missed a year, but I know that is a goal of his to get back there,” Mullenix said. “It kind of takes a little bit of pressure off him, having been there before. Obviously when you get to districts and sectionals there are some nerves because that isn’t the final goal for these kids. Corbyn is right there with Nate and Lathan and is going to give us some good scores this year.”
Behind Trenton’s big three are three other golfers. Luke Lewis, Connor Cotton and Okla Fitzpatrick round out the squad’s six players. While the top three are proven players, Trenton will need to find two more players from the other group of three to round out the varsity roster.
Lewis has the inside track to be the team’s number-four player. He spent some time in the varsity lineup last season, gaining experience. He also secured a medal at the Macon junior varsity tournament.
“Luke Lewis is much improved and he is going to be a good kid for us on the varsity there,” Mullenix said. “We are just working on getting him consistently shooting in the low 40’s and that would be a good score to count.”
Cotton and Fitzpatrick both have golfing experience from the past, but both are first-year players for the Trenton High School golf team. Mullenix hasn’t determined which one will round out the varsity lineup, but could see both getting time with the varsity over the course of the season.
“Okla Fitzpatrick and Connor Cotton both came out this year as first-timers. They have both played some golf in the past, but right now they are battling it out for that fifth spot. We have 10 days of practice left for them to figure it out, but they are both going to get better as the season goes along and it could be one of those things where they flip-flop back-and-forth throughout the season.”
As a team, the goal hasn’t changed much from any year in the past. Trenton wants a district championship. That is something that has been tough to pull off lately, however, with LeBlond – the defending state champion – dominating the district over the past four years.
“Our district is always tough with LeBlond being in there,” Mullenix said. “They have won it four years in a row and they have lost some kids, but they are still a very good team. The district tournament is at Maryville this year so that will kind of give them home-course advantage, but every year we have our sights set on winning districts. Ultimately that is our goal. If we get out there and do as well as we think we can, we can do that. We know it will be tough, but that is the goal.”
Trenton tees off on Tuesday, April 4, taking on Brookfield in a road dual.

2017 Trenton Golf Schedule
4/4 @ Brookfield
4/6 @ Darren Floyd Memorial (Tiffany Greens)
4/7 @ Marceline w/ Carrollton and Gallatin
4/10 Putnam County and Princeton
4/11 North Kansas City
4/12 @ Cameron Invitational
4/18 @ Chillicothe
4/20 @ Chillicothe Tournament
4/21 @ Murray Dennis Invitational (Richmond)
4/24 @ LeBlond Invitational
4/26 @ GRC Tournament (Chillicothe)
5/1 @ Class 2, District 8 Tournament (Maryville)
(Home Duals In Bold)
(All Duals Begin At 4 p.m., Tournaments TBA)