The Cordova Lady Lancers begin their season on Sept. 3 when they face Grant High School at Haggin Oaks Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Head Coach Brian Botsford

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - It's a new season for Cordova Lady Lancers golf, with a young team that is looking forward to hitting the links. 

Led by Head Coach Brian Botsford, the Lady Lancers are a younger team than in seasons’ past as they do not currently have a single senior on the roster. After seeing three seniors graduate from last year’s team, Botsford will be looking to a group of four returning players to help guide three newcomers to the team as they compete on the course this fall. 

Returnees include juniors Avery Arnold and Anna Vysotska, along with sophomores Eva Adair and Laney Boswell. They are each being counted on to step into prominent leadership roles on the team according to Botsford, who says that he has already seen them provide guidance on the course to the new members of the team.

First year players this season include junior Chloe Durborough, as well as freshmen Carli Durborough and Johanna Park. Overall, Botsford knows there will be a learning curve for everyone, and he is already seeing some promising early returns. 

“We ended the year last year and moved on from some good players,” Botsford said. “Now we have a new group coming in and I’m excited like always. They’re good kids with good parent support. They’re a little green is how I would probably describe them, but I’ve already seen some very good to moderate improvement just within the first week.”

Botsford is hoping to continue to grow the girl’s team similarly to how the boys team exploded in participation numbers last spring. With a young group on the girls’ side, he is hoping to recruit more interested players on campus and generate interest in the program throughout this season into next year. 

The Lady Lancers will be facing a competitive Metro League this season, however Botsford feels good about his team’s chances of qualifying at least one of their young players for the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Sac-Joaquin Section Divisionals tournament later this fall.

“I think just by what I've seen already, Anna (Vysotska) has a very good chance of doing that,” Botsford said. “Just need to keep her focused and doing all the simple things.”

The Lady Lancers take on Grant High School on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Haggin Oaks Golf Course, with tee time set for 3 p.m.