DARLINGTON - The expectations will be sky high when the Darlington-Cuba City girls golf team tees off the season at the Beloit Scramble on Tuesday.
The Redbirds return nine letterwinners and five of their top six golfers from last year. Darlington senior Naomi Black is just two years removed from a state tournament appearance. She qualified for the sectional last year and is looking to make another run at state.
Black averaged a 49 on nine holes last year. However, she isn't the only one who can carry the team as a No. 1 golfer on any given match. The other key returners are senior Kayla Paquette (52 average), senior Nikki Zimmerman (53), senior Kaitlyn Wall (56) and junior Sami Poss (56).
"My goal is to play the best I can," Black said. "I want to get back to the sectionals. If the road leads back to state that would be great. We will see what happens."
Darlington coach Gary Ringen is excited to see the team tee off to start the season. Ringen was honored Friday with a plaque for more than 25 years of coaching golf. Ringen coached the Darlington boys team for 19 years and is entering his eighth year as the girls coach.
"I am very pleased with the way the girls golf program has developed over the last seven seasons," Ringen said. "The averages have come down each year and the girls are now at a point where they can play with the better programs in the area. The girls have played a lot of golf this summer."
The Redbirds finished 13-0 in dual matches last year and won the SWAL.
Ringen is confident with a stable of veterans back.
"I feel like we can win the conference meet, advance as a team to the sectional level and have someone or the team advance to the state meet," he said.
The Redbirds have shot less than 200 in practice every day so far.
"I definitely think we have a great team," Black said. "I think we can make it to the sectional. We will see if that happens like I think and hope we do."
Ringen said the team is working on their second shots from the fairway, on play 100-yards out and chipping.
"Those are areas where strokes can be saved," he said.
The Redbirds return nine letterwinners and five of their top six golfers from last year. Darlington senior Naomi Black is just two years removed from a state tournament appearance. She qualified for the sectional last year and is looking to make another run at state.
Black averaged a 49 on nine holes last year. However, she isn't the only one who can carry the team as a No. 1 golfer on any given match. The other key returners are senior Kayla Paquette (52 average), senior Nikki Zimmerman (53), senior Kaitlyn Wall (56) and junior Sami Poss (56).
"My goal is to play the best I can," Black said. "I want to get back to the sectionals. If the road leads back to state that would be great. We will see what happens."
Darlington coach Gary Ringen is excited to see the team tee off to start the season. Ringen was honored Friday with a plaque for more than 25 years of coaching golf. Ringen coached the Darlington boys team for 19 years and is entering his eighth year as the girls coach.
"I am very pleased with the way the girls golf program has developed over the last seven seasons," Ringen said. "The averages have come down each year and the girls are now at a point where they can play with the better programs in the area. The girls have played a lot of golf this summer."
The Redbirds finished 13-0 in dual matches last year and won the SWAL.
Ringen is confident with a stable of veterans back.
"I feel like we can win the conference meet, advance as a team to the sectional level and have someone or the team advance to the state meet," he said.
The Redbirds have shot less than 200 in practice every day so far.
"I definitely think we have a great team," Black said. "I think we can make it to the sectional. We will see if that happens like I think and hope we do."
Ringen said the team is working on their second shots from the fairway, on play 100-yards out and chipping.
"Those are areas where strokes can be saved," he said.
