When Carson High girls golf coach Terry Gingell looks down his roster, he can't help but get a little giddy.
He returns eight players from last year's squad, including starters Chelsea Keating, Michele Kop, who missed the state tournament by one stroke, and Lydia Peri, who qualified for the state tournament.
"It's a strong 1-2 punch (Kop and Peri) with Chelsea right there," said Gingell, whose team opens Sierra League competition Aug. 28 at Wolf Run Golf Cub in Reno. "It's going to be tough to bump those top three out of there. Our top end (of the line-up) is strong. Our four, five and sixth players hopefully will improve as the year goes on.
"Chelsea could shoot some rounds in the 80s. We could definitely have a situation where are top six players shoot under 100."
Peri was the fourth-best Northern Nevada finisher at last year's state tourney. She shot 85 and 87 at last year's tournament.
"Her goal is to be one of the top players in the area," Gingell said. "She has a lot of talent. She's worked hard on her game. She is a more consistent ball striker and her short game is certainly better.
"She's definitely capable of shooting in the high 70s. I feel she's better this year."
Gingell is hoping an improved short game will enable Kop to shave a few strokes off her score.
"She is playing very well right now," Gingell said. "She is hitting the ball more consistently and her short game is way ahead of where it was last year."
Keating saw action in all six tournaments last year and the zone tournament.
"She will have to step it up this year to make it as an individual if we don't make it as a team," Gingell said.
Gingell said it was a wide-open chase for the final three starting spots.
Senior Erica McCraw, who hasn't played since her freshman year, sophomore Katie Cowperthwaite, junior Julia Lapham, senior Kacey Potter, sophomore Macy Young and sophomore Kim Mahoney are the leading candidates among the returnees vying for playing time.
"Katie played at zone last year," Gingell said. "She is serious about her game. She is improved over last year. Kacey's goal is to make some of the tournaments.
"Julia has played some over the summer and she is improving for sure. Kim didn't play any tournaments last year, but she's got a shot. Macy has a good chance to make it (top six). She can hit the ball."
Gingell also has seven freshman and sophomores new to the program, and he thinks a few of them could crash the starting line-up.
Katie Livermore, Whitney Nash, Sadie Staub and Elaina Shine are the freshmen, while Haydn Jensen, Katie Carlevato and Sara Scalise are sophomores.
"They are all working hard; not goofing around," Gingell said. "We have 16 girls on the team this year. A lot have come through the junior program. That's the way I recruit."
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