The Turlock High varsity girls golf program knows a thing or two about winning.
The Bulldogs’ 13 consecutive Central California Conference titles speak volumes of the program’s strengths and uniqueness for what Mary Krupka, along with the long list of alumni golfers, have brought and the standards they have set.
This year's team seems to be no different and is looking to make it No. 14 for the program that has absolutely dominated the CCC for well over a decade.
“We are not taking anything for granted, but I know we have a talented team this year,” said Krupka. “I am very fortunate to have the kids who anchored the program over the years, we have that saying where older kids will pay it back and newer kids will pay it forward and it is paying off. We are going into 14 years with the same attitude.”
During the 2016 campaign, the Turlock Bulldogs managed to reach their sixth straight Masters tournament appearance and the depth and strength of the 2017 squad is looking even better.
“We have a solid group,” said Krupka. “Having Preethi back is going to strengthen our team and some freshmen will help as well.”
The 'Dogs will look to Brooke Adams and Courtney Malmberg to lead the team, along with Sarah Musselman, Sierra Pangilinan and Preethi Singh.
“There are always expectations which are the same, take care of family, school and team, when it comes to the team, they have to work towards and can’t be discouraged, they have to keep going,” said Krupka.
Pitman and Hilmar girls golf seem to be on the rebuilding phase, yielding teams with no more than five on the current rosters, however, only four are needed to compete.
“Our mentality when it comes to the season is focus on yourself, get your game better and at the end we want to see anywhere from four to seven strokes off your game,” said Pitman head coach Kris Shaw. “It comes on to the short game.”
The Pride currently have four on the roster while Hilmar and coach Ty Pettigrew are boasting five.
“We can compete with four girls, and we have five, it's limited is all,” said Pettigrew. “I do expect us to compete for the VFL title, we are young still, we have a junior, couple sophomores, but my pool isn't very big, I have five girls so they all have to perform.”
In order to top the Valley Foothill League, the 'Jackets will have to rely on their inexperienced squad but coach Pettigrew is expecting the team to make strides as the season carries forward.
Pitman is coming off a fifth-place finish in the CCC with a very young and inexperienced squad and so far, the Pride's 2017 roster is looking even younger, boasting two incoming freshmen in Isabelle Rodriguez and Faith Vierra to compliment sophomore Madison Beard.
“We have Collette Sommerville, which she is a junior, that is how young we are, we have a junior leading the team,” said Shaw. “The freshmen are looking good, so I am excited about the young prospects as well, they have knowledge and skill and should be fun to see them compete.”
