LAPLACE — While rain has wiped out much more of the season than he’d like, it hasn’t quelled the enthusiasm St. Charles Catholic golf coach Gary Zeringue has for his Comets team this season — this is a special group, he believes.

“This is the best team I’ve had in 10 years,” Zeringue said. “We’ve played some very good teams and performed well. We’ve got a great one-two punch heading our team in Cameron Torres and Mikey Landry. We’ve got a team of guys who play multiple sports, and a couple of guys pulling double duty with golf and baseball. I’m extremely proud of these guys.”

St. Charles sports a season average score of 166, a score that was lowered last week when the Comets pulled off one of their two victories over a strong Holy Cross team, SCC shooting a season-low 156.

“That was our lowest score in a good while,” Zeringue said.

St. Charles is 10-2 in its 12 matches this season, with only losses to Newman and E.D. White. SCC split two matches with Newman

As the Comets get set for their district tournament Monday, a familiar name leads the way. Cameron Torres is following up a strong junior season with an impressive senior campaign. Last year, he advanced through the district tournament, and his score of 81 placed ninth in a tough regional tournament field.

While Torres is winding down his prep career, Mikey Landry is just beginning. The freshman shot an even-par 36 to lead SCC past Holy Cross last week, teaming with Torres, who shot 37, to spearhead the Comets victory.

“It’s rare to have that one-two punch, with two guys who can shoot below 40 on a nine-hole game,” Zeringue said. “It gives you a chance to be pretty good.”

Landry, Zeringue said, has a very bright future.

“He’s a special golfer,” Zeringue said. “He’s played in every junior golf league you can think of and he’s won tournaments. Last year, his summer program bumped him up from 13 to play with the 16-year-old age bracket. He’s shot even par twice this season.”

Landry and Jacob Jensen are two players splitting time between golf and baseball.

“It’s tough to do,” Zeringue said. “Playing both sports is tough enough, but playing them at the same time is even more difficult. Both are such mental games, and you have to deal with failure on a regular basis.

“Not just those two, but what I’m most proud of is that all of our golfers play more than one sport.

“Most teams we play, their golfers specialize in that and focus entirely on golf. We’ve been able to go toe to toe with them.”

Zeringue said this is one of the deepest teams he’s had as well.

“It was tough to pick a top five for district,” he said.

Monday’s district tournament will not be an easy field to navigate. Newman and Catholic-New Iberia both boast very strong teams this season, the former hosting the event on its home course. Familiar rivals Riverside, Patterson and John Curtis also await, among others. The top four teams will advance to the regional tournament.

“Our goal is to advance, but like I’ve told the guys, it’s also to win it,” Zeringue said. “If you win it, you get to host it next year.”