Islander girls continue rebuilding process on links

While there are a couple familiar names returning in Grand Island Senior High's starting lineup, coach Kelli Jeffries and the Islander girls golf team continues to be in a rebuilding mode after losing essentially its entire starting lineup from the 2006 state-qualifying team and two more starters off last year's squad.

Gone is senior Alyson Hartwig, who was Grand Island's lone Class A state tournament qualifier last year. Also no longer in the program is 2007 starter Stacia Robertson, who opted to concentrate on basketball.

That leaves senior Lindsey Massing and junior Courtney Cahoy as the only Grand Island players with significant varsity experience. As a result, Jeffries said the Islanders will have to call upon some young and unproven players.

"Until we can get some of these kids used to being in tournaments and getting over the nerve factor, it's going to be a slow process," Jeffries said. "Our lineup could definitely be changing from week to week. With young players, especially, you're going to get a lot of ups and downs and trying to get kids to develop consistency is probably one of the main battles we have."

The Islanders did pick up a player in senior Hannah Huston, who had played volleyball for the past three years. Jeffries said that although Huston hasn't played high school golf, she does have experience in the sport.

"It's kind of unusual because Hannah has played volleyball the last three years, but she has some experience playing golf and could be our No. 1 player," Jeffries said. "She's learned quite a bit in the short time that she's played.

"Hannah comes from a golf family and has been around the game, but finally decided that she'd come out. I think she's going to have a good year."

Jeffries said Grand Island will be relying heavily on Huston, Massing and Cahoy, especially early on.

"We're going to have to fill the Nos. 4 and 5 spots with some players to be determined," Jeffries said. "We have quite a few young kids coming up, but not any that have much experience right now and they're just a couple years away from being able to make an impact.

"Obviously, if you can get some of those young kids into some tournaments and get them experience, it means a lot. Then, they've also got to commit to playing in the summer if they want to be a good player."

Grand Island starts its season with two straight outings on courses that could be classified as confidence-testers. The Islanders open play Friday in the Kearney Invitational at Meadowlark Hills Golf Course and then travel to play in the Lincoln Pius X Shootout at Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln.

"We start out at Meadowlark Hills, which is a pretty tough course and then we turn around the next week and go to Wilderness Ridge, which is always one of the toughest courses we play," Jeffries said. "We're just at the point where we're trying to finish 18 holes and not have any major lapses, so if we're not mentally tough, those could be some long days."