FALL PREVIEW: Park Hill South Girls Golf

An impressive season in 2011 for the Park Hill South girls golfers included a 15-1 record, a third place finish at districts, and a team qualification for sectionals. Coming into 2012, the Panthers return three of five from last year’s team and will add to the mix a handful of upperclassmen to fill the gaps for another run at a successful season.

Seniors Lindsey Gile and Savannah Kutz along with junior Sydney Sanders return from sectional qualifications to lead Park Hill South this season. Sanders scored the highest (+27) for the Panthers in the state sectional tournament, which made her just a few strokes shy of a state qualification in 2011. Others in the varsity mix will be seniors Ashley Kildow and Cailin Ballard as well as juniors Kyliegh Keith, Lauren Pusateri, and Abbe Rechstener.

“We have a good group this season. Any of them have a great chance to make the varsity team,” head coach Larry Torgerson said. “I truly cannot project five of the eight players that will be playing varsity. I do know that it will be great to watch their matches!”

Park Hill South is not used to having large senior classes on their golf teams, so even though they will feature a strong class of four, it will be the most they’ve had in the program’s history. With that kind of leadership and experience comes high expectations.

“With a group of successful players this year our expectations will be high,” Torgerson said. “But with golf it is one stroke at a time.”

Playing up a conference as a result of realignment could present a challenge, but one the Panthers are looking forward to meeting head on this fall on the links. They begin the season with a handful of competitions in Liberty on August 22nd, 27th, and 28th before returning home to host St. Joe Central, Lee’s Summit North, and Lee’s Summit West at The National on August 29th.