It is back to the green for the Varsity and JV golf teams, and they are looking for a hole-in-one this season.
“We have a seasoned group of veterans,” said Steven Hoffman, varsity coach. “Anna Gray, Paige and Dana Olsen. The Olsens were on the state championship tennis team in 2011 so they understand competition. They understand what it takes to be a champion.”
The core group for this fall are Gray, Dana, Paige, Shelby Fleming, Caitlin McCaghy and Katie McKnee.
The team opened the season with two tournaments and placed ninth out of 24 teams at the Forest Lake Country Club Golf Outing with a 390. They placed 16 out of 24 at the Heather Highlands Shootout, with a 398. McCaghy medaled and Forest Lake and Gray at Heather Highlands.
“We have some excellent talent coming through the ranks,” said Hoffman. “We have five seniors on varsity. We have the leadership from Anna. She is academically brilliant and has been on varsity since she was a freshman. Our JV squad is filled with great talent, too. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some movement this year from JV to varsity based on scores.”
Hoffman’s goal for his first year coaching on the varsity level is to get the Lady Wolves performing at their peak level.
“We play four days a week as a team,” he said about the team’s dedication. “They play at least nine holes a day – chipping, punting and some range work. It’s getting them into championship form as quickly as we can. The Lady Wolves haven’t won regionals in a while. We need to get them back where they belong, rebuild the program and get more women out there golfing. They are there they just don’t know we are here.”
The team will battle in the OAA Red and took seventh in their first league meet but Hoffman said by next league meet on Oct. 1 at Birmingham Country Club they will place higher.
They have already beaten Lake Orion in league matchups, 186-207.
“We are in the very challenging OAA Red which is the top division,” said Hoffman. “Last year’s Miss Golf Gabby Yurik came from our division.
The team begins playoffs in October with the MHSAA Regionals set to begin on the 11th.
“They have the skills, and they know the game,” he added. “It is a matter of getting into mid-season form quickly and winning like they know how.This is a great group of young ladies.”