The Charles Henderson golf team began the 2019 season with a second-place finish in a match hosted by Opp on Tuesday.

The Trojans finished behind first-place Andalusia in what was a cold and blustery day in Opp.

“The guys performed,” said head coach Doug Branson. “We had three guys shoot in the 80s which is nice. We just couldn’t get the fourth guy in the 80s like we wanted, but it was the first time out. We had some new guys playing. It gives us an idea of what we need to work on moving forward.”

The temperatures struggled to get out of the lower 40’s on Tuesday and the wind and the conditions were tough for the Trojans to have to face in their first match of the season. It gave Branson a better idea of what his team will look like this season.

“You learn something new about your team every time you turn the lights on,” Branson said. “Every single person played in the same weather. Every person there was cold (Tuesday). It’s not what happens to you, it’s how you respond to what happens to you. I learned something about all of them. We had some that really grinded and then we had some that needed to focus harder. Yesterday was the weather, the next day could be rain and the next week wind. Whatever it is, how we are going to handle it?”

The Trojans were joined by Andalusia, Opp, Brantley, Straughn among others. Team members included Bailey Nixon, Braden Prestwood, Braxton Barron, Grant Baker, Cody Paramore, Griffin McCrary and Nicholas Loflin.

“It’s a long season; the first time out of the gate we did OK,” Branson said. “There are some things we are going to improve on and we will work on that when we get the opportunities to.”

The Trojans will have their next chance to compete today when they head to Lakeland Golf Course in Phenix City for a tournament that will consist of 18 teams.

“That will be a big test,” Branson said. “There will be some quality golfers over there. We will really get to see where we stand. We match up and we’ll see; it will be interesting to see how the guys respond.”