PANORA — The 2019 girls golf season will begin as something of an arithmetic problem for Panorama head coach Melissa Hochstetler.
The Panthers can, at least at the beginning of the season, be divided into three sets: a quartet of returning veterans, a quartet of limited experience freshmen and a quintet of others just now beginning to learn the game.
From this mix Hochstetler must find six players to fill out a varsity sheet, of which the low four are scored at each event.
“I am really excited about the amount of interest we have had in golf,” Hochstetler said. “All four returning girls have shown that they are committed to learning, and I can see all dropping several strokes from their game last year.”
Senior Taylor Raibikis is one of only three upperclassmen on the roster. She did not play a nine-hole event last season, but did appear in two 18-hole meets, averaging 127 strokes.
Junior Alex Kurtz played one nine-hole and one 18-hole round, posting scores of 69 and 105, respectively.
Sophomores Jordan Douglass (55.4/109.75) and Abby Cobb (60.17/115.2) bring by far the most experience back for another season. Cobb played in all six nine-hole and all five 18-hole meets, with Douglass appearing in five short meets and four full-card events.
Freshmen Sarah Kastner, Jaycie Maschino, Gracie Phillips and Gabby Welberg have some playing experience, but not at the competitive level, while junior Mavis Nelson, sophomores Amanda Holwegner and Hailey Meacham and freshmen Sofia Hunt and Emma Wasson are beginning players.
“The new additions to our team will just make us stronger,” Hochstetler said. “These girls are very motivated to learn to play and the fact that they are a competitive bunch doesn’t hurt, either.”
Panorama will play a coed today against host Madrid in a meet moved to Sugar Creek in Waukee. The second action for the Panther girls will be a coed quadrangular April 8 at Lake Panorama National, with AC/GC, Ogden and Van Meter the guests.
