GIRLS GOLF PREVIEW: Park Hill South aims to defend

Park Hill South girls golf, a regular at the top of tournament charts over the years, is back to defend another conference title in 2011. In fact, the Panthers return all of their top varsity golfers from last year’s team for this season. So not only will they be looking to repeat at conference champs, but they’ll look to improve on their sixth place in districts to advance onto sectionals and then a potential state berth as well.

Returning for South this year is junior Lindsey Gile, senior Elizabeth Brown, senior Kelli Mulligan, junior Savannah Kutz, and sophomore Sydney Sanders. Gile, a two-time state qualifier who finished 59th at the state meet with a two-day score of 190, will lead the team as their top golfer. Coach Larry Torgerson, now entering his 22 year in coaching, hopes that in addition to the core group he has coming back, there will be some younger players that can step up and push the rest of the team to improve.

“Hopefully we can develop at least two or three of the younger players can challenge for a varsity spot to create competition within the team,” Torgerson said.

While Park Hill South will be the front runner in regards to the conference outlook, Belton has a young and improving team that could give the Panthers a challenge for the crown. More important for South is the amount of work they’ve put in over the summer playing that they hope will prove advantageous as the biggest tournaments approach at the end of the year. All five players either played in official 18-hole events or put in time to practice through lessons or casual play.

In a cram-packed schedule, the team will have plenty of time to improve and build upon their skills as their schedule consists of over 17 events in the nearly month long regular season leading up to the conference tournament on September 26th.