ARGYLE - The Pecatonica-Argyle boys golf team has big expectations of making a fifth straight run to the WIAA Division 3 sectional.

Pecatonica-Argyle finished second in the Southwest Wisconsin Activities League last season behind conference champion Mineral Point. The team has sent golfers to state three consecutive years and are looking to break through as a team this season. Three of Pecatonica-Argyle's top five golfers from last year return including senior Mason Holcomb, senior Dylan Stietz and junior Jeff Saether.

"Mason and Dylan can both shoot low scores and will battle to be No. 1," said Pecatonica-Argyle coach Chris Holcomb, Mason's father. "They both have handled the pressure of playing tournament golf in high school and the USGA. They really want to get to state as a team."

Both Mason Holcomb and Stietz averaged a 42 in nine-hole matches last year. Chris Holcomb isn't sure what to expect in the season opener in the Lancaster Invitational April 14.

"It's hard to tell," Chris Holcomb said. "With the weather we haven't been outside very much for practice. "We haven't posted any scores in practice. We will do that this week."

Chris Holcomb taught a putting clinic to players last week where they focused on their posture, grip and alignment. He said he had players work on the fundamentals and their short games the first week because he didn't want to have players risk getting injured in the cold weather.

A trio of other golfers the Orioles are counting on are sophomore Ben Figi, freshman Noah Krahenbuhl and freshman Justin Carlson. Figi was a member of the Mike Muryani Junior Golf Foundation program over the summer. His coach has noticed a difference in his swing.

"He's an exponentially better striker than last year," Chris Holcomb said of Figi.

The Orioles-Vikings have 14 players total out for golf with five from Pecatonica, which includes three freshmen. Chris Holcomb has a bigger pool for competition to find his top five golfers compared to some other years.

"The interest is there," Chris Holcomb said. "I think having the home course here, some of these kids are established and have grown up on that course. You may have nine one year and 20 the next."

Pecatonica-Argyle is hoping to contend with Mineral Point and Barneveld for a conference title. The regional tournament is in Mineral Point and the sectional is at the Edelweiss Chalet Country Club in New Glarus this year.

"We are familiar with those courses," he said. "Every year with small school golf it's always the same. It comes down to the No. 5 golfer. Mineral Point and Barneveld will be tough."

It's the final year for coach Holcomb's son, Mason, in prep golf. After high school, Mason Holcomb plans to attend Southwest Tech and major in golf course management. He would be the third player from the Pecatonica-Argyle golf team to attend that college and major in golf course management, joining Matthew Amorose (2017 Pecatonica graduate) and Mitchell Steiner, who is now an assistant golf professional in Minocqua.

Chris Holcomb isn't sure how he will react as the season winds down for Mason. He understands it could become emotional.

"It will be hard at the end of the year," Chris Holcomb said. "We will still be playing golf together in the summer. It's a life-long sport."