High school golf: Streator, Ottawa, Sandwich, Fieldcrest swing into fall season

Streator Bulldogs

Head coach: Dustin Masley

Key returnees: Noah Colter (sr.), Dane Winterrowd (sr.), Cooper Wahl (sr.), Davey Rashid (sr.), Adam Jakupcak (sr.)

Key newcomers: Cole Park (so.), Cole Martin (jr.), Kylen Krasnican (jr.), Chase Hamara (jr.), Cooper Spears (jr.)

Season outlook: The 2019 Illinois Central Eight Conference champion Bulldogs are led by a proven group of seniors that includes sectional qualifier/top scorer Noah Colter, fellow All-IC8 selection/steady on the scorecard Wahl, three-year varsity veteran Winterrowd and Rashid, who will be splitting time between the golf team and the boys soccer club. Colter is a serious contender for the IC8 individual title and a trip to the IHSA State Finals, and Masley expects those top four to push each other to greater heights and lower scores. Jakupcak, the juniors and Park will compete for spots in the varsity lineup.

In a few words: “We expect to compete for the IC8 regular-season and conference tournament championships. … Getting out of regionals as a team this year is definitely on our list of goals. Right now, our top four guys are seniors, and we have a nice mix of juniors and sophomores with a few freshmen who can hopefully learn from the older guys and improve every day.” – Dustin Masley

Ottawa Pirates

Head coach: Keith Budzowski

Key returnees: Drake Stoudt (sr.), Jonathan Cooper (jr.), Drake Kaufman (so.)

Key newcomers: Seth Cooper (fr.), Chandler Creedon (fr.), Alex Billings (so.)

Season outlook: If Thursday’s season debut at the 2021 Prep Tour-Illinois Junior Golf Association High School Showcase is any indication, the Pirates are in store for a fun season. Leading the way is The Times 2020 Golfer of the Year, Jonathan Cooper, a defending regional and Interstate Eight Conference champion. Stoudt was a top 10 finisher in sectionals last year and would have been a state qualifier if not for COVID-19. Kaufman finished his freshman season strong, placing fifth at sectionals, a stroke better than Stoudt. Seth Cooper makes for a strong fourth in the lineup, with the Pirates hoping to develop some scorecard insurance from the likes of Creedon and Billings.

In a few words: “I hope to see the team compete well again within our conference as well as in tournaments. The guys have worked real hard in the offseason so we can build on what we started last year, winning the regional. It’s still too early in the season to be predicting our postseason outcomes, but this group of guys is hungry to prove themselves, and a trip down to Bloomington (the site of the IHSA State Finals) in early October for some Gondola’s [restaurant] would satisfy their appetite for victory!” – Keith Budzowski

Sandwich Indians

Boys

Head coach: Mike Butler

Key returnees: Michael Barbey (sr.), Sam Dawson (sr.), Nick Sullivan (jr.)

Key newcomers: Noah Campbell (fr.), Kadin Kern (so.), Jacob Kuntz (sr.), Matt Hewitt (sr.)

Season outlook: Barbey will be the cornerstone for this fall’s Indians, with Butler saying, “His leadership will be invaluable this year with so many young and inexperienced golfers and I look for him to be competitive in every match we play and to be in contention in many of our tournaments and the state series.” Dawson and Sullivan are the other proven commodities, with Butler hoping for good things from his newcomers as their game develops.

In a few words: “The new faces have definitely brought a competitive attitude to the program, which I think adds a fun dynamic to our team and sets the stage for a lot of battles for playing time, which I think will make us better as a team. … I have seen improvements in the entire team and I look for us to be more competitive this year as we face a tough schedule in the Interstate Eight.” – Mike Butler

Girls

Head coach: Mike Butler/Randy Malloy

Key returnees: Alijah Campbell (sr.), Jayden Baumbach (sr.), Melody Goldstein (jr.), Georgia Vehe (jr.)

Season outlook: Campbell is flat-out one of the area’s best and will be looked to help ease the loss to Pomp and Circumstance of team mainstays/all-conference performers Morgan Ross and Grace Donahue. The good news is, Campbell – a three-time All-Interstate Eight pick herself and a potential state qualifier – is good enough at the ace spot to help make up for the Indians lack of depth. She also has three proven performers alongside her, with Baumbach, Goldstein and Vehe all returning letter-winners.

In a few words: “(Campbell) is strong in all phases of the game and she has a killer instinct that makes her dangerous late in rounds and hard to catch when she is in the lead. I look for her to be near the top of the leaderboard every time she tees off and make a deep run in the postseason this year. Georgia, Mel and Jayden also made great strides last year and look to continue that trend this season.” – Mike Butler

Fieldcrest Knights

Boys

Head coach: Matt Winkler

Key returnees: Lucas Bernardi (jr.)

Key newcomers: Jaxon Kearfott (jr.), Connor Reichman (so.), William Applen (so.)

Season outlook: For his final season, Winkler has a team without a senior on the roster after graduating four-time sectional qualifier Koy Allen. Junior Lucas Bernardo will lead the Knights after qualifying for the Class 1A state tournament as a freshman. The rest of the roster is made up of a junior, two sophomores and five freshmen.

In a few words: “Lucas went to state his freshman year. I expect him to do very well this year. The rest of the team is very young and will improve each and every day.” – Matt Winkler

Girls

Head Coach: Lisa Lindstrom

Key Returnees: Calli Nix (sr.), Natalie Schultz (sr.), Ella McKay (sr.), Ella Goodrich (sr.)

Season outlook: The four returning seniors and a half dozen plus one other strong players have the Knights aiming high this fall. Two juniors, two sophomores and three freshmen fill things out behind Goodrich, McKay, Schultz and Nix to make up a roster Lindstrom calls “very interchangeable,” with the seniors expected to mentor the younger girls.

In a few words: “We have strong leaders and very driven athletes. As a team, we are hoping to take home first place at the HOIC [Tournament] and take the team to [IHSA] State. With 11 strong athletes, we have the potential for individuals to place during tournament play, as well as continue to state.” – Lisa Lindstrom