PREVIEW: Panthers hope experience will produce consistent scores

     If the Monticello High School girls golf team can put together consistent performances, it has a chance for a strong season this spring.

     The Panthers have just seven players out for the team, including five returning letter-winners.

     “I think our strength is our experience, as we have five golfers with varsity experience, and we have two freshmen, Drucilla Kramer and Rebekah Prull, who could really help this year,” said 16^th-year coach Joe Steen.

     The returning letter-winners are two-time state qualifier Lauren Ries, a senior; along with senior Courtney Campbell, and juniors Lilly Lambert, Lydia Franzenburg and Marissa McNally.

     Ries had an eighth-place finish in the state Class 2A Girls Golf Tournament last year. As a team, the Panthers were fourth in the regional first round tournament, and tied for 10^th in the River Valley Conference tourney.

     Steen said the team’s goals are usually the same each year.

     “Have fun, be successful, get better, win our conference and qualify for the state meet,” he said.

     In order for those things to happen, the team will need to have steady performances, he added.

     “I think consistency will be our biggest concern,” Steen said. “We have too many blow-up rounds at the wrong time. We just need to have four consistent scores every meet.”

     The coach said West Liberty might be the strongest opponent in the conference, but that Wilton and Camanche generally have strong teams as well.