Ready to shine

Eight returning players give Canton girls golf team reason to be optimistic in '09

  The pieces are in place for Canton's girls golf team to equal or better last season's tremendous season.
  A strong nucleus of linksters return for the Chiefs, who are coming off a 7-3 2008 campaign that saw them finish fourth in the Kensington Lakes Activities Association.
  "We have eight girls back and four of them played varsity last year, so we should be O.K. as far as experience goes," said coach Dan Riggs. "We have some new kids, too, who should be able to contribute this year."
  The Chiefs will be led by a trio of captains: seniors Erin Lixie and Megan Baumgart; and junior Mary Elizabeth Winther.
  "Erin is probably our hardest worker," noted Riggs. "She plays all summer long. When I was golfing this summer, I saw her at courses numerous times playing with her mom or dad.
  "Mary Elizabeth works hard, too. We'll be depending on those two to be the core of the team.
  "Megan hits the ball very well; she just has to get a little more consistent."
  Joining Baumgart and Lixie on the Chiefs' roster are three more seniors: Amber Johnson, Breanna Hicks and Lina Petryczkowycz.
  The junior class consists of Ariel Alber and Winther, while Katy Lobb and Paige Osler are the only two sophomores.
  Freshmen Katie Adams and Kayla Lagola will be looking to make an impact in their first high school season.
  Canton's top six players so far have been Lixie, Baumgart, Osler, Winther, Petryczkowycz and Alber, Riggs said.
  The Chiefs open their 2009 campaign Tuesday at the Franklin Invitational, an event they placed second in last season.

Ed Wright can be reached at [email protected] or (734) 453-1980.