“I think we have a lot of potential and we’ll go out and play as best we can to live up to that potential,” says first-year Head Coach Steve Whittaker.

 

Whittaker takes over for Cassandra Johanns who coached the team last year, who took over for Dwight Lundeen from the year before, who took over for Bill Gallipo — who had to retire due to a medical condition.

 

With all the recent turnover with the girls golf team, staying consistent is a new priority for this team.

 

“We’re gonna take this year and work on getting better than we were last year,” said Ashley Neuwirth — one of the team’s three captains. “This is a younger team than we’ve had in the past and we as captains need to make sure everyone feels a part of the team and build each other up.”

 

Neuwirth is joined by Ali Fisher and Haley Thelen as the only seniors on the squad. The girls not only lost their coach from last year, but they lost some great talent in Lauren Veldman and Rachael Johanns to graduation.

 

This year’s three seniors hope the losses they’ve suffered through lately wont have an effect on their play on the course.

 

“”Everyone here seems to have a great attitude and we’re anxious to get the season going,” said Fisher. “I hope to play better than I did last year, improve my game and help get this team to state.”

 

Whittaker has been involved in coaching the youths for many, many years and recently was coaching the junior high team which is now being led by Lance Fox and Anna Babbler.

 

Whittaker previously coached the boys golf team as recently as four years ago.

 

Last year, the Bulldog girls golf team shot their best team score of the season in the first round of section play at Blackberry Ridge G.C., just missing the second day cutoff by just five strokes.

 

However, three Bulldog golfers played well enough to advance to the second round of play in individuals  in Sartell, including Veldman, Cheyenne Piccolo and Fisher.

 

The second day of individual play was played in miserable weather but Fisher played great in the rain, shooting bogey golf and a 46.  Veldman shot a 48 and Piccolo shot a 49. None of the three Bulldog golfers were able to advance to the state tournament.

 

 

“My goal is to shoot better than my best score of 89,” said Fisher. “I’m pretty sure I can reach that goal this year.”

 

“I, too, want to shoot better than my best from last year (81) and I definitely think that’s possible,” said Neuwirth.

 

Whittaker doesn’t know what to expect and all he can do as a coach is get the team prepared to play their best as soon as the season begins.

 

“We’ve worked hard on our putting drills, our chipping, our full swings — all of this in an indoor setting,” said Whittaker. “I’ll be better able to assess what we have when the girls first hit the driving range and start playing for real. I’m really excited for this year’s team.”

 

The girls have had two meets postponed because of weather and have an invitational at Monticello Country Club scheduled for Monday (weather permitting). Thursday, the girls host 16 area teams at Pebble Creek starting at 2 p.m.