By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

St. Charles’ golf coach Gary Zeringue was one of the few locals who had reason to grimace as the Mardi Gras holidays approached.

It’s only because he’s been waiting for his team to get into a groove, and once the process began, the holidays interrupted.

But nonetheless, St. Charles can call itself undefeated thus far with wins in each of its first two matches of the season.

The Comets (score of 179) defeated Lutcher (223) and Ascension Catholic (185) and also defeated John Curtis in a match, 175-230.

“I’m anxious to get back into a groove,” said Zeringue. “But I’m very pleased with our play through two matches. We had no practice until after Valentine’s Day, then you factor in how the weather’s been … after two real weeks of practice, you have to feel pretty good with those scores.”

In the tri-team match, Lance Perrilloux and Matt Autin led the Comets with scores of 41 each. Jesse Coleman and Ryan St. Pierre each shot a 48.

For Ascension Catholic, Ryan Rodrigue and Taylor Landry each shot 42.

Remy Roper led Lutcher with a score of 52.

Autin led all players against Curtis with a score of 40. Perrilloux was right behind with a 41. Coleman shot 46 and St. Pierre chipped in with a 48.

Bobby Dodd led Curtis with a score of 44.

Zeringue said that he has high hopes for this team, but knows it will have to round into a fine form before the team’s end of season regional tournament, with competition like Newman, St. Thomas Aquinas and Northlake Christian among the challenges on the slate.

“We hope to get some momentum going and this is a good start,” he said. “Hoping to improve and challenge for that regional. It’ll be tough, those teams always are. But we remember state last year. We didn’t play well.

“And I think the memory of that feeling drives our guys.”