Girls Golf Preview

Westminster Christian Academy is the defending Class 1 state champion and the Wildcats have eight lettermen back, including the state champion.

Brooke Cusumano won state, senior Ciara Younger was seventh at state last year and junior Jordan Wolf came in fourth.

Coach Steve Bradley has depth to go along with them, making the Wildcats a solid favorite in the early going.

Lafayette and Marquette both had solid seasons last fall and look to be strong once again.

St. Joseph’s Academy is on a mission. Last year, the Angels did not make it to state for the first time in eons and coach Carol Fromuth will work hard to get her girls back to the big tournament.

Here is a look at the teams in alphabetical order, with insight from the coaches.

 

EUREKA WILDCATS

Coach: Greg Curran.

Returning: 3 lettermen

Players to watch: the three returning players

Newcomers expected to contribute: Three to five freshman will compete for varsity positions.

Team strengths: Will be very young. This is a positive and a negative. Our returners have been very good leaders and have been supportive of our strong freshman teammates.

Teams in the Suburban West Conference: Eureka, Fox, Lindbergh, Lafayette, Mehlville, Northwest, Parkway South, Summit

Teams in Class 2, District 1: Cor Jesu, Eureka, Farmington, Fox, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Northwest, Oakville, Parkway South, Summit, Seckman

Quote: “The practices have been good, the attitude has been equally good, but everyone is a little uptight about how we will do as a team this year,” Curran said. “I expect we may have more of a rotation of players but that is to be seen soon.”

 

INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY RED KNIGHTS

2011 record: Finished second at sectionals. Seventh at state.

Coach: John Gundy. Entering eighth year coaching at Incarnate Word Academy. Swing coach is Bryan Wack. Took the team to state for the first time last year.

Returning: 4 lettermen

Players to watch: team captain Laura Kohnen, Amanda Ressel, Liz Francis

Goals: Take the team back to state and place in the top half of the teams present.

Teams in MWAA conference: Nerinx Hall, Ursuline Cor Jesu, North Dame, Lutheran South, Incarnate Word Academy

Teams in Class 2, District 2: Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, Incarnate Word Academy, Kirkwood, Nerinx Hall, Ritenour, St. Joseph’s Academy, Ursuline, Webster Groves

Quote: “In the last couple of years Incarnate Word has turned the corner, going from a team with one or two good players to a team of golfers that consistently posts competitive teams scores,” Gundy said. “This is when it gets fun.”

 

LAFAYETTE LANCERS

2011 record: 10-0 in duals. Won Suburban West Conference regular season title and conference tournament.

Coach: Gaylen Laster.

Returning: 3 lettermen

Players to watch: senior Ashton Goldammer, junior Michelle Stading, sophomore Sammi Charpentier.

Newcomers expected to contribute: Senior Brianna Cullimore, a transfer from Minnesota; freshman Mindy Hennrich, sophomore Sarsh Madej

Team strengths: Hard work and course management skills.

Goals: Try to get a three-peat in winning our conference and then qualifying the team for sectional and state competition.

Teams in Suburban West Conference: Eureka, Fox, Lindbergh, Lafayette, Mehlville, Northwest, Parkway South, Summit

Favorites to win the Suburban West Conference: Marquette

Teams in Class 2, District 3: Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt South, Lafayette, Marquette, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Pattonville

Quote: “I am very excited about the team and what potentially they could do by the end of the season,” Laster said. “As I always tell the team, it’s not how you start, but how you finish.”

 

MARQUETTE MUSTANGS

2011 record: 7-2 in duals. Second place Suburban West Conference tourney. Second place in districts. Had one state qualifier

Coach: Michelle Spencer. Entering second year as head coach at Marquette.

Returning: 4 lettermen

Players to watch: sophomore Ashley Daniels, Seniors Lauren Shatto, Morgan Schettler, Kiersten Kuc

Newcomers expected to contribute: freshman Allison Tichenor

Team strengths: We are very experienced with four golfers returning from a sectional qualifying team. We have a deep team, could potentially play eight different players at the varsity level. Scores are consistent. Work hard. Drive to improve their game.

Goals: Place top three in all tournaments entered, win conference tournament, qualify for sectionals and state as a team.

Teams in conference: Eureka, Fox, Lindbergh, Lafayette, Mehlville, Northwest, Parkway South, Summit

Favorites to win the conference: Parkway South, Lafayette

Teams in Class 2, District 3: Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt South, Lafayette, Marquette, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Pattonville

Quote: “I am looking forward to this season and very excited about what this team has to offer,” Spencer said. “So far, we have worked hard on our short game and it is showing out on the course. The girls have been having fun out on the course and are excited to get going in matches and tournaments. We are looking forward to continuing our success from last year.”

 

MICDS RAMS

2011 record: 5-7 in duals. Third place in Class 1 Districts. Third place in Class 1 Sectionals with Campbell Torchin tying for first and Darby Hobbs tying for third individually. Torchin finished eighth and Darby Hobbs 15th at state.

Coach: Steve Johnston. Entering second year as head coach at MICDS. Assistant coach is Judy Horrell.

Returning: 5 players

Players to watch: senior captain Darby Hobbs, junior Abby Desai, sophomore Madison Wrobley, freshman Abby Schroeder

Newcomers expected to contribute: sophomore Ariana Desai, freshman Abby Schroeder, freshman Nicole Shearing

Team strengths: Great returning leadership, solid tournament experience, mental toughness

Goals: Better our regular season match record, win the Metro League and go to state as a team.

Teams in Metro League: John Burroughs, Lutheran South, MICDS, Villa Duchesne, Westminster Christian Academy.

Favorites to win the Metro League: Westminster Christian Academy

Teams in Class 1, District 1: Cardinal Ritter, Clayton, Duchesne, John Burroughs, Lutheran South, MICDS, Notre Dame of Cape Girardeau, Nortre Dame of St. Louis, Villa Duchesne, Visitation Academy, Westminster Christian Academy

Quote: “We are really excited about our team this year,” Johnston said. “Our goal is to take a full team to state for the second time in school history. Westminster remains the top team in our conference and they will be tough to dethrone. But if our top five players play to their abilities, we should have a successful season. We’d also like to better our regular season record as we lost two matches last year by less than three strokes. We think we can do this by being more consistent and this is where our motto for the year comes into play: Mental toughness. If we learn to let go of the unfortunate things that sometimes occur during a round, remain positive and focus on the hole in front of us, we should improve immensely.”

 

PARKWAY CENTRAL COLTS

2011 record: 4-5 in duals. Fifth in Suburban South Conference Tournament.

Coach: Todd Pannett. Entering fifth year as head coach at Parkway Central.

Returning: 4 lettermen, all sophomores this year.

Players to watch: sophomore Elizabeth Leath, who tied for 35th at state last year.

Newcomers expected to contribute: sophomores Chloe Kersten, Molly Pannett, Megan Grazman, Laura Stecher and Kathryn Rechenberg. juniors Brittany Gergory and Lizzie Altman, freshmen Morgan Peterson and Madeleine Van Leunen

Team strengths: Good group of girls who are currently working hard to improve their games. We are very young with six girls who have not played before but are making progress on a daily bases. Great group to work with to date.

Goals: As always, to continue to work and improve each and everyday. To improve their knowledge of the game and the rules of golf.

Teams in Suburban South Conference: Kirkwood, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Seckman, Summit, University City, Webster Groves

Favorites to win the conference: Parkway West should be strong, as well as Rockwood Summit and Kirkwood.

Teams in Class 2, District 3: Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt South, Lafayette, Marquette, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Pattonville

Quote: “I am very excited for the season. We will be very young with two freshmen, six sophomores, and two juniors on the team,” Pannett said. “We are very inexperienced except for Elizabeth Leath, who will be counted on for big things this year. She has had a great summer of golf and hopefully it will carry over to this season. This is a group of girls who want to learn the game and hopefully they will continue to work towards that goal. Our success will not be based on wins and losses, but their ability to get themselves around the golf course. Hopefully, it will be a fun year for all involved.”

 

PARKWAY NORTH

2011 record: 6-4 in dual meets. Stephanie Mazzoni was a state qualifier.

Coaches: Bob and Phyllis Carter.

Returning: 1 player

Players to watch: senior Stephanie Mazzoni, junior Gretchen Gregory, sophomore Emma Mitchell

Newcomer expected to contribute: freshman Erin Armstrong

Team strengths: Girls are working hard.

Goals: To do well in tournaments, qualify at least some team members for state.

Teams in Suburban South Conference: Kirkwood, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Seckman, Summit, University City, Webster Groves

Teams in Class 2, District 3: Francis Howell Central, Francis Howell North, Fort Zumwalt East, Fort Zumwalt North, Fort Zumwalt South, Lafayette, Marquette, Parkway Central, Parkway North, Parkway West, Pattonville

Quote: “The girls are working together as a team,” Phyllis Carter said.

 

PARKWAY SOUTH PATRIOTS

2011 record: 6-7 in duals.

Coach: Adam Weiss. Entering second season as coach at Parkway South.

Returning: 2 lettermen

Players to watch: senior Jenn Buehler, junior Megan Crawford.

Newcomers expected to contribute: freshman Allie Dannegger, who should be a four-year varsity player

Team strengths: Team works hard at practice, continually motivate each other.

Goals: Would like to finish top 3 in conference and districts.

Teams in conference: Eureka, Fox, Lindbergh, Lafayette, Mehlville, Northwest, Parkway South, Summit

Favorites to win the conference: Parkway South and Lafayette

Favorites to win the conference: Lafayette and Marquette will be the two clear favorites for conference title.

Teams in Class 2, District 1: Cor Jesu, Eureka, Farmington, Fox, Lindbergh, Mehlville, Northwest, Oakville, Parkway South, Summit, Seckman

Quote: “The loss of Lauren Redmond (graduated) will hurt, but I think our team is deeper than in years past,” Weiss said. “We could surprise a few teams this year and hopefully will finish amongst the top in conference.”

 

ST. JOSEPH’S ACADEMY ANGELS

2011 record: 6-3.

Coach: Carol Fromuth. Entering 16th year as head coach at St. Joseph’s Academy.

Returning: 4 lettermen

Players to watch: junior Chelsea Thompson, senior Paige Schwetz.

Newcomers expected to contribute: sophomore Maggie Martel

Team strengths: Good chemistry. Team gets along; it’s a big team with 16 girls.

Goals: To go to state.

Teams in MWAA White conference: Nerinx Hall, Ursuline, Cor Jesu, North Dame, Lutheran South, Incarnate Word Academy, St. Joseph’s Academy

Favorites to win the conference: St. Joseph’s Academy

Teams in Class 2, District 2: Hazelwood Central, Hazelwood East, Hazelwood West, Incarnate Word Academy, Kirkwood, Nerinx Hall, Ritenour, St. Joseph’s Academy, Ursuline, Webster Groves

Quote: “The season is very young and we have a good four to five weeks to get for districts,” Fromuths said. “We’re excited about the season. They’re working hard. We got to work harder on our short game.”

 

WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WILDCATS

2011 record: 14-0 in matches. 6-0 in tournaments – won the Angel Classic, Metro Conference Championship, River Challenge, districts, sectionals, and Class 1 state championship.

Coach: Steve Bradley. Entering 16th season with a record of 146-86-1 at Westminster with three District Championships, one Sectional Championship, four Final Four appearances at State with two third-place finishes, a tied for second place and one state championship.

Returning: 8 lettermen

Players to watch: senior Brooke Cusumano (first at State), senior Ciara Younger (seventh at State), junior Jordan Wolf (fourth at State), sophomore Megan McDaniel, freshman McKenna Montgomery.

Newcomers looking to contribute: junior Claria Kopsky, sophomore Morgan Winkelmier, freshman Lauren Griesedieck

Team strengths: A lot of depth. Girls that love playing golf and working hard at improving their games. We are very experienced and have several seasoned players. Players that have a lot of tournament experience. Added to those traits we have girls that rise to the occasion and love the tuff competition.

Goals: We would love the opportunity to do well through the playoffs again and get to state. We play a lot of tough teams and they all will throw their best at us.

Teams in Metro League: John Burroughs, Lutheran South, MICDS, Villa Duchesne, Westminster Christian Academy

Favorites to win the Metro League: Conference is always tough with Villa, MICDS and much improved Burroughs and Lutheran South.

Teams in Class 1, District 1: Cardinal Ritter, Clayton, Duchesne, John Burroughs, Lutheran South, MICDS, Notre Dame of Cape Girardeau, Nortre Dame of St. Louis, Villa Duchesne, Visitation Academy, Westminster Christian Academy

Quote: “Our district is probably the hardest district in the state,” Bradley said. “If we can keep all cylinders firing with out any heck-ups we should do well. We can’t wait for the season to get started. We are very excited about our new players. If we can get to state as a team it will be our fourth time in four years. We just want a chance to try and defend our title. Quoting our team captain Brooke Cusumano, this year our motto for each player and each shot is to ‘See it, feel it, trust it.’”