A trio of returning starters has the Oregon girls golf team eyeing more success in conference and in the postseason.
“Last year was a little bit of a rebuild but we kept growing stronger throughout the season and still placed third in the Badger Large and won our regional,” Oregon coach Casey Johnson said. “This year, we have several top performers back and the new players to varsity were not far behind our varsity players last year. We should bring more experience and more depth this year.”
Senior Madelyn Sharkus, senior Bella Bryant and junior Maya Hegg all were in the Panthers’ starting five in the postseason last year. Sharkus is set to be Oregon’s No. 1 golfer after finishing with the lowest average on the team as a junior. Sharkus will play collegiately at UW-River Falls next year.
At Oregon’s season-opening meet, Sharkus carded an 82 to tie for third overall and led the Panthers to a runner-up team finish at the Taylor Clark Invitational on Thursday, Aug. 13, at Brighton Dale Links Golf Course.
“Madelyn has grown tremendously in the head-game department and is calm and collective on the course,” Johnson said. “She is experienced and is becoming an excellent short-game player.”
Bryant is expected to be Oregon’s No. 2 golfer. Bryant placed in the top three in three Junior PGA events over the summer and is planning on playing golf collegiately, according to Johnson. In the opener – which saw Oregon total a team score of 337 – Bryant took ninth with an 89.
“Bella Bryant can hit the daylights out of the ball,” Johnson said. “Her drive can hang with anyone in high school golf.”
Hegg was Oregon’s top finisher at regionals last season, placing third overall. Hegg – who finished fifth in the opener with an 83 – is slotted in at the Panthers’ No. 3 spot to start the season.
“Maya Hegg grinds on the course and is always working to improve,” Johnson said.
Junior McKinley Younggren was Oregon’s top JV golfer last season and also saw some action on varsity. Younggren carded a personal-best 92 to finish 14th in the season opener.
“She can hit it a long ways and I expect her to take a big step in her game this season,” Johnson said.
Seniors Fallon Croissant, Savannah Sharkus and Maya Farr are all expected to be potential varsity contributors. Savannah Sharkus shot a 100 at the opener to finish 24th at the nine-team invitational.
Last season Oregon tied with Beaver Dam for third at the Badger Large Conference Championship. DeForest finished first and Waunakee took second at the meet.
DeForest will once again be one of the top teams in the conference and also will be a contender to win a team state title, according to Johnson. Other top teams in the conference are expected to be Waunakee, Oregon, Beaver Dam and Milton.
Oregon will be one of the favorites to win its regional. Some of the top teams in the Panthers’ sectional include DeForest, Middleton and Waunakee.