For two years in a row, the South Whidbey High School boys golf team has dominated the Cascade Conference.

But last June, the team lost its core seniors, and this should be another proverbial building year for the team.

Or is it?

Senior Brooks Guetlin is leading the pack this season and he is optimistic.

“I feel good. I worked during the off-season on my swing and mental game,” he said. “I’ve learned that each time I approach the ball,

I need to be better focused on the target before I hit the shot.”

Guetlin and fellow senior Perry Cooley were on the champion team, and Falcon coach Steve Jones has high, but realistic, hopes.

“King’s had all their kids come back, so they are the favored school. But the greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory,” he said.

“We just might sneak up on the Knights, but only if each golfer applies himself to the game. All aspects of the game, and of course I’m speaking of the short game, chipping and putting. A perfect swing and pinpoint long-distance accuracy have little value if the

putting stinks.”

Jones said that at this point it seems the Falcons and Archbishop Murphy will be pushing each other hard for the second sweet spot in league standings.

Jones said Guetlin’s former raw talent has progressed favorably over the past year, and Cooley isn’t far behind.

“Brooks is working on perfecting his swing and controlling his emotions on the course,” Jones noted. “All of the guys are making sure they select the right club and pick an intermediate target that will get them where they need to be during a close match. That blade of grass at 200 yards will do the trick.”

Jones added that golf remains the ultimate game of precision, with precious little room for error.

He said that Shane Thompson and Tommy Boyle have improved their game, and he is looking to them to help the team’s overall scores.

All told, golf is hot; 25 kids tried out and Jones had to reluctantly scale back to 18 players evenly divided between varsity, junior varsity and the practice squad.

At 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 24 the team hosts the Cedarcrest Red Wolves for the first home match.