2012 Girls Golf Preview Capsules

NORTHWEST LEAGUE

ARBOR VIEW
Head coach: David Fish, eighth season
Returning letterwinners: Three
Top golfers: Kiley Ballew (Sr.), Shaylee Hollan (Sr.), Ashley Money (Sr.)
Outlook: The Aggies return only three letter winners, but all are seniors who have the potential to shoot well.

Ballew averaged 81 strokes per 18 holes last season, and is joined by Money (85 stroke average) and Shaylee Hollan (88 average).

“Also, the team welcomes freshman Betsy Branton who will be counted on to round out the team score,” Fish said. “The team hopes to return to the Sunset Region tournament and qualify for the state tournament.”

SOUTHWEST LEAGUE

BISHOP GORMAN
Head coach: Jim Stanfill, first season
Returning letterwinners: Three
Top golfers: Melissa Cayne (Sr.), Maddie Black (Jr.), Katie DeJesus (Jr.)
Outlook: The Gaels graduated half of their lineup last season, but bring back their most consistent scorer in Cayne.

“We have many new talents to go with the returners,” Stanfill said. “It’s considered a rebuilding year, with a tremendous upside.”

CIMARRON-MEMORIAL
Head coach: Calvin Valvo, sixth season
Top golfers: Aspen Bryant (Jr.), Arianna Bryant (Sr.)
Outlook: As the Bryant sister go, so too should go the Spartans.

Aspen placed 10th and Arianna 15th at the state meet last season. Both will be expected to lead the team this year.

DESERT OASIS
Head coach: Ken Gibson, first season
Returning letterwinners: Four
Top golfers: Jasmine Moore (So.), Mika Stewart (Sr.), Katarina Bussmann (Jr.), Ashley Malone (Fr.), Kulani Purkey (Jr.)
Outlook: The Diamondbacks bring back four golfers as they look to compete in the Southwest League.

“We have a very young team and are looking to build on last year,” Gibson said. “We are excited about the upcoming season.”

SOUTHEAST LEAGUE

FOOTHILL
Head coach: Judy Swanson, seventh season
Returning letterwinners: Four
Top golfers: Amy Ruelas (Jr.), Jordan Brown (So.), Palmer Bosanko (Sr.)
Outlook: Ruelas qualified for the state meet, and Brown and Bosanko both went to the Sunrise Region meet last year.

“Our team expectations are to finish in the top three in our region,” Swanson said.

GREEN VALLEY
Head coach: Greg Murphy, seventh season
Top golfers: Alex Kaui (Sr.), Sarah Thomas (Sr.), Mercedes Khunmark (So.)
Outlook: The Gators won the last three Class 4A state titles and should be in contention for the Division I crown this year.

Kaui has captured the individual state title each of the past two seasons. Khunmark was third in the Sunrise Region and sixth at state, and Thomas took fourth in the region meet and placed 11th at state last year.

“We expect to compete for a regional and state championship,” Murphy said.

DIVISION I-A SUNSET

CHEYENNE
Head coach: Teri Hernandez, first season
Returning letterwinners: Zero
Top golfers: Megan Ingram (Sr.), Taylor Perez (Sr.), Tyler Asing (So.)
Outlook: Hernandez takes over a program that will have all new faces this season.

“We are looking forward to having fun while learning the game of golf,” Hernandez said.

FAITH LUTHERAN
Head coach: Mark Cheney, 13th season
Returning letterwinners: Six
Top golfers: Annie Freman (Sr.), Brianna Becker (Sr.), Julia Becker (So.)
Outlook: Freman placed second in the Class 4A state meet last year, and Brianna Becker was the 4A Sunset Region champion.

They’re back to lead a team that returns its top five players and should be the prohibitive favorite to capture the inaugural I-A crown.

Freman, who won an American Junior Golf Association title this summer, has committed to Santa Clara. Brianna Becker also is expected to play in college.

Julia Becker would be the No. 1 player on many teams in Las Vegas.

“Our expectation is to compete for a state title,” Cheney said.

PAHRUMP VALLEY
Head coach: Julie Floyd, 24th season
Returning letterwinners: Two
Top golfers: Summer Dispensa (Sr.)
Outlook: Dispensa is a three-year letter winner and leads a group that hopes to make a splash in Division I-A.

DIVISION I-A SUNRISE

BOULDER CITY
Head coach: Regina Quintero, 12th season
Top golfers: Jordyn Syler (Jr.), Mariah Harvey (So.), Kelli Hatfield (So.), Rachel Jensen (So.)
Outlook: Syler finished second in last year’s Class 3A state meet, and Harvey also was a state qualifier.

“We’re still a young team with relatively new golfers,” Quintero said. “We are looking to improve all games as the season goes on.”

CHAPARRAL
Head coach: Adrianna Donnelly, first season
Returning letterwinners: Zero
Outlook: The Cowboys are starting from scratch with no returning golfers.

“I want to create a base team and embed a love for the game to my players,” Donnelly said.