Whitehall is a less experienced team this fall after some key graduation losses, but two key returning players give the Vikings a good base as they defend their West Michigan Conference championship.
Senior Morgan Garcia and sophomore Riley Shafer both had very good seasons last year as the team not only won the WMC, but finished second in the regionals and made it to state. Both have played regularly in the offseason and should be in line for another strong campaign this fall.
"(Shafer) worked on her game a lot this summer," Whitehall coach Bill Borgman said. "Morgan is improving her swing and should be on track. She has good goals for this year. I think those two will lead the team as far as our scoring averages are concerned."
Junior Kelsie McClure, a third-year player, will probably fill the No. 3 position on the team. The rest of the squad is less experienced. Juniors Ryleigh Hershey and Abigail Mussman, sophomores Miley Manzo and Avarie Bentz and freshmen Addie Bennett, Emily Luna and Macy Sikkenga are slated to round out the roster, with Sikkenga potentially dual-sporting. Those three freshmen, Borgman said, are pretty much brand new to the sport, so there will be a big opportunity to develop.
The Vikings' home course, White Lake Golf Club, is undergoing renovations this fall that include the temporary displacement of the practice facility and driving range, but Borgman takes the optimistic view of that change, saying it will result in the team playing more golf on the course and gaining experience.
"I think that will be to our benefit," Borgman said. "We won't be concentrating on swing changes. We'll be playing golf and trying to improve our scores. I think that will be a factor for us, or at least different than we've done in the past."
Whitehall will play a difficult schedule, including the Fruitport Invitational, the Lober Classic in Traverse City and the East-West Showdown at Muskegon Country Club. Borgman is also pleased the team will be able to play a pre-regional event at this year's regional course, Waters Edge in Fremont.
Borgman also noted that assistant coach Jim Hams puts together a JV schedule for teams to compete at Hickory Knoll Golf Course each Tuesday from Aug. 26 through Sept. 30.
