GLEN LAKE will once again field a young golf team with no seniors. From left are Melanie Kulanda, Brenna Flores, Madison Hill, Nicole Pace and Skylar Gleason. Not pictured are head coach Paul Christiansen and returnee Samantha Thompson. The Glen Lake girls golf team has a half dozen players hitting the links this fall, including two newcomers.

Included in this year’s group are four returnees. They are juniors Samantha Thompson and Nicole Pace and sophomores Madison Hill and Sklyar Gleason.

Thompson, who played some her freshman season, is the most experienced returnee. Pace was the team medalist a year ago, however, all of the returnees were also medalists in at least one match.

“They are doing a great job. Thus far all of them are way ahead of where they were a year ago,” Glen Lake coach Paul Christiansen said.

Newcomers this year as sophomores are Melanie Kulanda and Breanna Flores.

“It is so difficult as a beginner to not just learn the technique of golf, but to learn the rules of etiquette of golf,” he said. “But they are very supportive of each other and they are open to advice and trying to improve each time out.”

The combination of experience and numbers will help the Lakers in matches this fall.

“We should be much more competitive as a team and it will be fun to see it unfold,” Christiansen said.

Glen Lake, which is in its sixth season, is the only county school offering golf.

“I wish more Glen Lake girls would avail themselves of this opportunity to learn a lifelong sport and that more area schools would make this opportunity available to their female athletes,” Christiansen said.

The Lakers will play their home matches at Mistwood Golf Course in Lake Ann.

“They are so generous to let us use their facilities and to host matches there,” Christiansen said.

The Lakers opened their season last Thursday with a 219-241 loss to Manistee. Gleason led the way with a 55, Hill shot 59, Kulanda had a 61 and Flores carded a 66.

Megan Vander Weele was medalist for Manistee with a 46.

“Compared to our match last year at Manistee at this time, it’s a good improvement,” said Christiansen, noting the Lakers were 46 shots better. “I don’t think that our scores will all be this dramatically better, but they should be lower overall this year.

“The year of experience means a lot.”