By Wyatt Dojutrek, associate online editor-in-chief
In his sixteenth and final season as head coach of the varsity boys’ golf team, Tom Martindale reached a golden milestone against one of the top boys golf programs in the state on Aug. 18.
Martindale won his 200th game as Prospect’s head coach against New Trier 318-325, a team who has placed second in the state in three of the past four seasons.
With victories against Elk Grove and Hersey on Aug. 21, the Knights are now 6-1 with a 4-0 record in the MSL.
For his career, Martindale has 285 wins, the first 85 came during his nine seasons as head coach at Wheeling High School.
Martindale acknowledges how much the players that have helped the program win multiple conference titles the past couple of seasons.
“I think that the players deserve all of the credit, and other people too,” Martindale said. “The players, they are the ones who compete, they are the ones who put the ball in the hole.”
As well as how much his assistant coaches, Gary Judson and Paul Hennig, have helped him out during his 16 years at the helm.
“There are a lot of people that deserve a lot of credit,” Martindale said. “And just because my name is on the line that says head coach, this is more of a mark for everyone in the program. [Judson and Hennig] have worked with the underlevel kids and the varsity kids, and they are such a valuable resource and also very knowledgeable in the game.”
Helping Martindale get to his 200th Prospect victory was senior Jack Moeller who shot a 74 in extremely hot, and difficult conditions at  the Mount Prospect Golf Course.
“We struggled a little bit that particular day,” Martindale said. “They were the only two guys that broke 80 out of sixteen guys, so I think that those two rounds were outstanding.”
Following him were senior John Cantieri with a 75, junior Dylan Norton who put up a 84, and junior Sam Ergastolo and senior Jack Knott both who finished the day with an 85.
The Knights will hit the tees once again on Thursday against two MSL West teams, Barrington and Palatine at Makray Memorial Golf Club.
But after 16 seasons leading the charge for the varsity boys’ golf program, Martindale will remember this milestone for the rest of his life.
“That certainly does feel great, because it’s my last season,” Martindale said. “It was very nice and something I will remember forever.