The Lake Orion varsity girls golf team returns this year with four of last year’s players and a new head coach.
Megan Daly, an English teacher at Lake Orion High School, is taking over head coaching duties from Monty Gallaher. She played golf at Purdue University, and helped coach junior golf programs there.
She said the team has so far just been practicing and getting a feel for playing outside again.
‘We have four players coming back from last year,? she said. ‘Darby Peters is a sophomore, Megan Clemence is a sophomore, Britney Hamilton is a sophomore, and Kristen Clemence is a senior.?
New to the varsity this season are Chelsea Gross, a freshman; Dana Ferrari, a junior; Jackie Puuri, a sophomore and Heather Picklo, a senior who played for junior varsity last year.
‘They did some conditioning on their own over the winter,? Daly said. ‘We have a couple of really strong girls…Some of them need experience. It should be an interesting season.?
Daly said Peters and Hamilton will probably be the strongest players for the team.
‘Also the Clemence girls,? she said. ‘I think all of them will grow as the season goes.?
Daly would like to see Peters and Hamilton end up in the top 10 for the state.
‘They have the potential and the game,? she said. ‘Chelsea (Gross), who is new, she’s been playing for a long time also.?
The Dragons are looking forward to attending the Traverse City Tournament at the end of April, and will see tough competition from Birmingham Seaholm this year.
‘Seaholm is returning all of their players,? said Daly. ‘We’ll just take it one match at a time.?
Last year, Lake Orion earned its first Oakland County tournament title in school history, and finished second in the OAA II League Meet.
Daly said she hasn’t yet established this year’s goals for them.
‘I’m still learning their game,? she said. ‘I would like to see them improve their short game.
‘I think they’ll be exposed to the state’s top contenders, so they’ll see where they need to be,? Daly said.
Daly said she is considering not having a team captain this year because she would like the girls to feel on more equal terms.
‘I want them all to step up,? she said.
‘If something needs to be done, do it…don’t wait for someone to tell you to.
‘They’re all driven and ambitious,? said Daly. ‘With guidance, they can be as good as they want to be.?
Overall, Daly said she wants them to enjoy the experience.
‘I definitely want them to have fun,? she said.