Five percent.

According to the National Golf Foundation, that’s the amount of adult golfers who average under an 80 score on a par-72 course.

At present, the Northwestern High School golf teamis easily exceeding that percentage.

“This year we have four players who shoot in the seventies, and four others who can score in the eighties,” said Tiger golf coach Tim Miller, now in his seventh season with the program.

Miller is the golf pro at Olde Homestead Golf Club in New Tripoli that is located across the street from the high school. The proximity and quality of the Olde Homestead course is something he thinks gives his team an advantage.

“There’s no question we have a great practice facility,” said Miller. “Interest in our program has peaked. We had 25 students come out for our team.”

Leading the Tigers, who are 9-2 this season, is senior Tyler Wiik, who is averaging a 76 in his 11 matches. Miller describes Wiik as a “well-rounded golfer with a very good short game.”

“Tyler had no instruction whatsoever in golf,” added Miller. “He’s a very good catcher on the baseball team, but he’s worked hard to improve his game by seven strokes from last year.”

Senior teammate Mason Bogwell has improved his mental game tremendously according to Miller. He can hit the ball a long way and is “good on the greens’ and like his good friend, Wiik, Bogwell scores consistently in the seventies.

The improvement of sophomores Joe Frey and Luke Hallman has given the Northwestern lineup the balance and depth that has allowed it to defeat several opponents by more than 40 strokes this season. Hallman recently shot a two-under par 70 last week against Tamaqua at Olde Homestead for his personal best.

“Frey is reliably consistent,” said Miller, “Hallman is very tall with a powerful wide arc swing. Not only are they helping now, but they help make the future of Northwestern golf look very bright.”

The eight-player varsity team also includes seniors, Colin Rex and Mike Joseph along with sophomores, Jake Bellicker and Gabby Smalley, all of whom are capable of scoring in the low eighties or even high seventies.

In Miller’s 50 years of experience, he has seen an evolution in high school golf that has been for the betterment of the game.

“It once was more of a social event for kids who didn’t take the game seriously, but now the game is much more competitive,” said Miller. “At the Old Homestead Club, which includes a second nine hole course, we have many young kids taking up the sport.

“The Smith family who owns the two courses have been very generous in allowing me to instruct many of our current and future golfers.”

Miller does not take his team’s success for granted. He knows that each time his players step on the course, he will have to check their swings and help them keep their mental focus,

“This is a game, like life, in which most of the time you don’t win. It prepares you for the struggles in college, in jobs, in everything,” he said. “I’m proud to be the coach of these kids and at the end of each match, whether they have great scores or not, the only thing that matters is if they gave their best efforts and competed on each shot and each hole.”

After its final regular season match, the Tigers will compete for the Colonial League tournament title at the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course, and then its on to the District 11 playoffs for team and individual competitions.