2012 Spring Preview: Keys, Dittman, Lamar will lead way for Park girls golf team

Coming off one of its toughest seasons, the Park girls golf team faces another season of low-enrollment coupled with many players new-to-the-game. However, the Wolfpack is ready to improve from last year, and build on what experience they do have.

“[It’s a] very similar situation this year. We’ve got about 12 girls who are out for golf. We’re just introducing them to the game this year,” said longtime head coach Greg Juba.

However, the team returns talented players this year as well. Sophomore Anna Keys advanced to the second round of last year’s 3AAA section tournament and was only four strokes away from qualifying for state in 2011. Seniors Joelene Dittman and Lexy Lamar also return to the team with varsity experience.

“[The] main thing we’re looking at is continuing to improve.” Juba said.

Juba hopes that as the season progresses, each team member, “can leave the course saying they know how to play golf.”

With youth comes hope, and the team’s youngest varsity players will have years to perfect their game.

“We have three eighth graders this year who have ability and should be able to play varsity this year,” Juba said.

Eighth graders Annika Hein, Lexi Hofsetter, and Brooke Strenke have the potential to help Park cultivate depth for future seasons.

Noting that practice time is available at River Oaks, Juba hopes his team can put in the extra effort.

“If they can find the time, they’ll end up improving tremendously,” he said. “The girls we have out are very good scholar athletes, involved in the IB program. We’ll just continue to get better. The main thing, as we keep moving along, [is to] find ways to trim scores off around the green, lowering our scores.”

Park plays at its first meet at Prestwick Golf Course at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 19.

Tags: 2012 spring preview, sports, prep, updates