DARLINGTON - With just one golfer with varsity experience, Darlington-Cuba City coach Jim Poss didn't enter the season with aspirations of contending for a conference championship and expected to have a rebuilding program.
The Redbirds graduated four of their top five golfers from last year's team including two sectional qualifiers and two-time state qualifier Naomi Black. The Redbirds turned in a stellar first tournament winning a quad 208-220 over Mount Horeb (220) Friday, Aug. 16 at the Darlington Country Club. Lancaster finished third (232) and Southwestern was fourth (255). Darlington senior Sami Poss, a sectional qualifier last year, took medalist honors finishing with a nine-over par 44.
The Redbirds had three of the top five golfers. Darlington senior Shelly Augustin and freshman Kinsey Gould each carded a 53 to tie Lancaster's Brianna Marcue for third place.
"This is the biggest surprise I have had since I have been coaching," Poss said. "This team wasn't picked to be anything. I had some who didn't even know how to put a marker down to mark their ball when we started practice three days ago. It's like having all rookies. I'm ecstatic. I literally couldn't believe them picking it up and playing this well so fast. It's like a Miracle on Ice. It's a Miracle on the Darlington golf course."
Ali Simons shot a 58 and Emilie Bellricherd carded a 62 to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds finished second place in the SWAL last year, but Sami Poss is the only experienced golfer back. Her father, Jim Poss decided to coach after consulting with his daughter. Jim Poss coached the Darlington boys golf team for two years, and he is replacing longtime coach Gary Ringen who coached the girls team for eight years and coached the Darlington boys team for 19 years.
"They needed a coach and I wanted them to have a team," Poss said.
Poss expected many question marks on the course as far as how the young golfers would handle the competition.
"Dealing with a rebuilding program, we need to focus on the fundamentals of learning the game of golf," Poss said. "It's a whole new game for many of the girls who have never golfed in meets before."
Darlington-Cuba City will host Lena-Winslow at 4 p.m. Wednesday and will have the Darlington Invitational with a 9 a.m. shotgun start Friday, Aug. 23. Poss is excited about the start after the first tournament.
"There is nothing better than having kids smile after they performed what you have been teaching them," Poss said. "I'm tickled to death over it. It makes me feel like I'm a good coach."
The Redbirds graduated four of their top five golfers from last year's team including two sectional qualifiers and two-time state qualifier Naomi Black. The Redbirds turned in a stellar first tournament winning a quad 208-220 over Mount Horeb (220) Friday, Aug. 16 at the Darlington Country Club. Lancaster finished third (232) and Southwestern was fourth (255). Darlington senior Sami Poss, a sectional qualifier last year, took medalist honors finishing with a nine-over par 44.
The Redbirds had three of the top five golfers. Darlington senior Shelly Augustin and freshman Kinsey Gould each carded a 53 to tie Lancaster's Brianna Marcue for third place.
"This is the biggest surprise I have had since I have been coaching," Poss said. "This team wasn't picked to be anything. I had some who didn't even know how to put a marker down to mark their ball when we started practice three days ago. It's like having all rookies. I'm ecstatic. I literally couldn't believe them picking it up and playing this well so fast. It's like a Miracle on Ice. It's a Miracle on the Darlington golf course."
Ali Simons shot a 58 and Emilie Bellricherd carded a 62 to round out the top five for the Redbirds.
The Redbirds finished second place in the SWAL last year, but Sami Poss is the only experienced golfer back. Her father, Jim Poss decided to coach after consulting with his daughter. Jim Poss coached the Darlington boys golf team for two years, and he is replacing longtime coach Gary Ringen who coached the girls team for eight years and coached the Darlington boys team for 19 years.
"They needed a coach and I wanted them to have a team," Poss said.
Poss expected many question marks on the course as far as how the young golfers would handle the competition.
"Dealing with a rebuilding program, we need to focus on the fundamentals of learning the game of golf," Poss said. "It's a whole new game for many of the girls who have never golfed in meets before."
Darlington-Cuba City will host Lena-Winslow at 4 p.m. Wednesday and will have the Darlington Invitational with a 9 a.m. shotgun start Friday, Aug. 23. Poss is excited about the start after the first tournament.
"There is nothing better than having kids smile after they performed what you have been teaching them," Poss said. "I'm tickled to death over it. It makes me feel like I'm a good coach."
