Chad Emmert and Megan Foucht are the only seniors on the Husky golf teams this spring but Coach Tom Horn is expecting good things from both the boys and girls squads.
“There is great potential for the girls team,” Coach Horn said. “Their potential is sky high. It’s by far our best group of girls since I’ve been coaching them. They are very solid and willing to learn.”
Overall, the squad is inexperienced, but a core group of freshmen offers great hope in years to come.
“Our senior, Megan Foucht, started last year and spent the summer working on her game. She’s vastly improved,” Coach Horn said.
The squad’s only junior is Jessica Burke who has concentrated on the game.
“Jessica has taken lessons and could wind up in the top 10 in the league,” Coach Horn said. “She’s our most skilled golfer thus far.”
Six new golfers have joined the team. They include sophomores Lora Romandia and Brittney Zornia and freshmen Abby Knight, Lisa Wiens, Ashley Rice and Oakley Tyler.
“We haven’t had four freshmen of this kind playing together,” Coach Horn said. “These kids are all very smart and are trying to learn.”
The early matches, starting this week, will be an “adventure” coach Horn said since the girls have had very limited time on the greens.
In league, Molalla and Central are the leading picks.
“By the end of the season, we hope to be better than Sisters and North Marion,” Coach Horn said.
The boys squad returns with much more experience than in most years, Coach Horn said.
Chad Emmert is the team’s lone senior. He returns with three years experience.
“We’ve got enough depth that guys are having to compete for a spot on the varsity foursome,” Coach Horn said.
Junior Keith Horn is the squad’s top player in terms of experience.
“Keith has played a lot of golf,” Coach Horn said. “He started playing when he was young and competed in youth golf tournaments. He’s now starting to develop an attitude for the game.”
Fellow juniors include Scott Gagner and Jared Burcham, Blake Keesecker, Brent Webster and Kyle Temple.
“Our juniors are good players and will be solid,” Coach Horn said. “Kyle Temple is new but he’s doing well, so is Brent Webster.”
Sophomores include Ricky Howe, Kenny Jones, Clint Moran and Cory Gilroy.
“Ricky and Kenny are becoming very good golfers,” Coach Horn said. “Both are athletic. Kenny has a beautiful swing. Clint has made a big improvement in technique over a year ago. He’s becoming a very solid player.
Gilmore is new to the game as is freshman Leon Vineyard.
Sisters will be the head-and-shoulders favorite in the league and in the state meet, Coach Horn said without hesitation. Tillamook could contend as could Valley Catholic.