NIAGARA FALLS —  

If practice makes perfect, Mike Boss had an immaculate summer.

The Lew-Port senior spent his summer vacation cleaning golf clubs at Niagara Frontier Country Club; but when he wasn’t in the bag room scrubbing he was hitting the links himself.

“I played just about every day,” Boss said. The club lets workers play for free on Monday, but not everything was fun and games for him this summer.

 “I played a lot of tournaments,” he said. “Actually, I had a good season. I won the Buffalo District Junior Match Play and got second in the stroke play.” 

In other words, Boss is no ordinary bag boy. The Lew-Port golfer heads into his senior season as the Lancers’ ace following the graduation of sectionals champion Matt Petrosian. Those are big shoes to fill for sure, but his coach has confidence in the righty.

“He’s invaluable, especially in a year like this,” said Lew-Port golf coach Scott Townsend. “We don't have a ton of experience on our team this year, we're starting off as a relatively inexperienced team again.” Townsend said players like Boss and returning junior David James are essential to give a young team confidence in competitive play.

“He's played a lot of competitive golf over the last few years,” Townsend said, noting his BDGA win over the summer and a pair of trips to the state tournament with Lew-Port. 

“It's nice too because he's almost an assistant coach,” Townsend added. “He helps out with the kids, gives them some advice and things like that. He's an invaluable member of the team.”

Boss’ experience on the links is no accident. The Lancer says he’s been golfing ever since he could walk, but he really came around in middle school.

“I got into it when I was 12 but I could always swing the clubs,” Boss said. Of course, it helps to have a golf pro for a father.

“He gives me lessons and always helps out,” Boss said of his father, John. “It's good to have him.”

“He was brought up on a golf course,” coach Townsend said. “It was just a matter of getting him some competition and confidence and he took off from there. He's a coach's dream.”

 A coach has to appreciate an athlete willing to train every day, but Townsend said he’s warned his players to take a break every once in a while. 

“I've told Mike in the past, ‘make sure you take some time off,’” Townsend said. “I told Matt Petrosian the same thing last year. You have to take some time off to mentally and physically rest your body.”

Boss hopes to play competitively in college, and has already been in touch with Flagler College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, both in Florida.

“He goes to Florida a few times in the winter,” coach Townsend said, “He's familiar with the weather, familiar with the climate.”

Boss and the rest of the Lancers will see plenty of golf over the next few weeks, but he said they’re ready to get things started.

“I'm looking forward to it,” Boss said. “We had a good season last year, so we want to build on that.” If anything, Boss will have a bit of a home course advantage: Lew-Port’s home course is Niagara Frontier Country Club.

“Their greens have been fantastic this year,” Boss said. “That helps when you like where you're playing.”