The Cordova Lancers golf program is seeing a much larger turnout than in years past. From left are senior Khubaib Rafi, freshman Ali Rafi, sophomore Erick Quezada, sophomore Eli Cervantes, senior Mason Gibbons, senior Dawson Tempke, junior Aaron Maruca, freshman William Stoffel, freshman Jackson Neuenfeld, senior Justin Rai, senior Nate Zilles, senior Avery Bryant, senior Maddox Tran, senior Rohid Salam. Athletes not pictured include Landon Nunn and Jose Perez. Photo courtesy of Head Coach Brian Botsford

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - After qualifying three athletes for the CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Divisional tournament a year ago, the Cordova Lancers varsity golf program is looking forward to bigger and better things in 2026. 

The Lancers enter their upcoming spring season with a much larger roster than in seasons past and will have 16 student-athletes taking part under the tutelage of head coach Brian Botsford. The teams’ top returners include seniors Nate Zilles, Mason Gibbons, Maddox Tran, Khubaib Rafi, Justin Rai and Rohid Salam, along with sophomore Eli Cervantes.

Nine newcomers are also being thrown into the mix, giving the team the numbers necessary to compete for one of the top spots in the Metro League. The turnout has Botsford feeling great about the program as they get set to tee off. 

“We’re feeling fantastic,” Botsford said. “We’ve had a big jump in numbers from last year. A lot of it is the players doing a lot of the recruiting, and that kind of happens when you have a coach be consistent for a couple of years. People start talking and you get the ball rolling a little bit better. It’s been great.”

With the success the team had last season combined with an influx of young talent, Botsford has high hopes for the team over the coming months. Within the Metro League, the top two teams will earn playoff berths, along with the next six top individual players from league play. The Lancers qualified Zilles, Gibbons and Cervantes individually last spring, and are looking to replicate similar success this season and then some.

“My number one goal is to return a handful of guys to Divisionals,” Botsford said. “Now if I can get five guys together to play well enough to get one of those team spots, that would be awesome.”

The Lancers open their season with a Metro League match against West Park at Woodcreek Golf Course on Tuesday, March 10. Tee time is set for 2:30 p.m.