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GIRLS’ GOLF PREVIEWS: Cloverdale, South Putnam bring in full squads while Greencastle, North Putnam look to recruit teams behind senior returners
The 2024-25 athletics year has arrived.
While the familiar ping of golf balls sounded off on courses around the state Friday, the rest of the athletics’ fold gets to work starting Monday,
For the next two weeks, the Banner Graphic will be getting a quick look at the fall sports teams around the county in what is the final year of collective campaigning among the four county schools under one conference banner.
Girls’ Golf
Greencastle
A shorthanded Tiger Cub squad returns one of its three golfers from last year in senior Emma Callahan.
While Greencastle has a list of potential players on the way, Emma will form the backbone of the team for the time being.
“We’ll continue to work on putting together a team,” Greencastle head coach Brad Kingma said. “We have just a single returner and five or six who are interested.
“Of those that showed an interested, several have put in some work. A couple have told me they have taken lessons this summer.”
Callahan was the runner-up at last year’s WIC Girls’ Golf Match with Kingma looking to see her maintain her rounds better this year.
“We want to see more consistency from Emma,” Kingma said. “She can hit great shots and would make great shots throughout her rounds.
“Minimizing some of the damage when you hit a bad shot and recover is what we’re looking for, as well as improvements in her short game and putting.”
With school starting Monday, Kingma expected more golfers to be out, despite the first match of the year later that afternoon against Monrovia, noting that it doesn’t require being an all-state golfer to be a key player on the team.
“Playing on the team is fun,” Kingma said. “Kids don’t have to be great to contribute.
“It’s about learning the game and, by the end of the season, we’ll be able to accomplish some of goals, both individually and as a team.”
North Putnam
The Cougars, defending Putnam County champions, will have their work cut out to do so again as the team starts with just two golfers on the roster, having graduated three of its Putnam County championship members in county runner-up Gabbi Simonson, all-WIC golfer Kaitlynn Jacobs and Morgan Mason.
“The key here is the two girls are really excited,” North Putnam head coach Earl Hall said. “Even if that’s all we have this year and we can’t score as a team, they know they can still play out county, conference and sectionals.
“They can play their hearts out, have opportunities to finish as individuals and that goes all year long. There’s a reason for us to practice and to hold our heads high.”
Senior Madison Houser returns as a four-year member of the squad with fellow senior Hayden Fowler joining the squad.
“This is Hayden’s first year and Madison will be a big help to her, walking her through the ropes,” Hall said. “Madison has been very complimentary of me to Hayden.”
Similar to Kingma, Hall said the benefits of playing golf were not simply for a couple of months but for long into the future.
“Golf is a game to be played for the all ages,” Hall said. “I tell parents that there aren’t golfers out here that are going to be on the LPGA or PGA, so play it for what it is: it’s a game of challenge but can also bring you an abundance of fun.
“I get to play this game with my seven grandkids and still be able to go out with my son and daughter to play. We’re going to make it a very enjoyable year.
“We’re going to go out each day, do the best we can, shake hands with somebody and get on the bus.”
Cloverdale
The largest squad currently composed in the county, the Clovers bring back four veteran players while being bolstered by a large group of freshmen in 2024.
“We are excited about this season,” Cloverdale head coach Jamie Steffy said. “We have got a lot of experience back from a team that finished with a winning record last season, including winning multiple three-way golf matches for the first time in school history.”
Seniors Aliyah Maldonado and Autumn Wheeler lead out the Clovers, joined by returning juniors Celeste Terrell, an all-WIC golfer a year ago, and Payton Watkins.
Cloverdale adds four freshmen to the mix in Aliyah and Aubrey Burroff, Jazlyn Cruculius and Alyzah Welton as well, offering plenty of competition for the fifth spot in the lineup.
“This is my fourth year of building this program and we have got more girls out each year to play golf,” Steffy said. “We have improved our golf skills every year along with the increase in numbers.
“Needless to say we have high goals this season. I have an awesome group of upperclassmen who do a great job of leading our team.”
South Putnam
Three of the five Eagles that held varsity spots return for South Putnam, who will have to replace regional qualifier, all-WIC and Putnam County champion Alie Newby as well as all-WIC graduate Mackenzie Lovett.
Senior Faith Wiggins, junior Bella Fanning and sophomore Kloee Pastore return, as does sophomore Lyida Roderick for the Eagles, who add a freshman in Molly Huber into the mix.
“We are young, but all the girls are coachable and eager to learn,” South Putnam head coach Jill Newton said. “This is a building year for us.
“Our goal is just to improve scores every match.”