Posted: 4/14/04

Graduation losses hit girls golf team hard

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

Last season saw two senior Forest Lake High School girls golfers go to the state tournament, this year could be a different story though.

Krista Swanson and Christie Brink ended their high school golfing career by appearing at the state golf tournament. The appearance was Brinkís sixth and she finished 55th with a score of 182. Swanson was a seasoned veteran of the state tournament appearing in a total of six and finished fourth with a score of 160 in her final appearance.

The other senior golfer that made up the top three for Forest Lake from last years team was Laura Henry.

ìIím happy I had them,î girls golf coach Bill Loushine said. ìItís great that theyíre moving on and meeting kids the way golfers do at tournaments. Now we just start over again and that tends to be the way most of the real good golf teams are. They build for three or four years, peak those kids, then start over again.î

This season junior Sarah Berger will be golfing alongside seniors Rachel Martin and Jenna Lee and sophomore Ashley Weeda. Last season Berger was an all-conference golfer who started the season out as the number four golfer and at times moved into the number two spot.

With only having four golfers for Loushine to rely on each golfer has to go out and have a good round each time out.

ìI could use six and count four, but I donít have the luxury of veteran golfers,î Loushine said. ìThat makes it really tough because if someone has a bad day someone doesnít get off the hook. All four scores count all the time.î

There are a total of eight golfers on the team, but the bottom four golfers are all eighth graders that are not quite ready to jump into a varsity round of golf.

Those underclassmen, all 8th grade or less, ìThey are works in progress,î Loushine said. ìMy hope with them is to let them see the fun in the game and hope that they develop the passion. Iím certainly not going to put them in situations theyíre not ready for.î

In conference play Woodbury and Stillwater will be dominant teams, followed by Hastings and White Bear Lake.

ìWe would be doing very well if we can be in the middle of the pack,î Loushine said.

When sections roll around, Forest Lake will have to watch out for Grand Rapids and newcomer to the section Elk River who are both known for having strong programs.

ìThe four girls that will definitely be playing the varsity schedule, they definitely wonít give up and they know their backs are to the wall,î Loushine said. ìThey know when they go on the golf course their score will count. I look at the season more like a progression where they will learn, get better and hopefully peak at the end of the season and maybe qualify someone for state.î

Forest Lakeís first round of golf is Monday at Midland Hills Country Club at 3 p.m.

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