Malta golfers feature 15 golfers, new coaches

The 2017 Malta Golf team features a new look that features 15 golfers and two new coaches.

The team is comprised of eight boys and seven girls, some of which have experience at the divisional level.

The varsity teams will consist of five golfers on each squad.

Four of five girls' varsity golfers just missed out of making state as a team last season following a tie-breaker that didn't go their way.

"As a group they came within a stroke of qualifying for state," Malta Golf Head Coach Sean Estill said. "They were competitive at divisionals last year."

Sophomore Reba Doucette will fill a varsity slot for the second season in a row.

"Reba's shots off the tee have been probably the most consistent and solid of everybody on that girls team this year," Coach Estill said. "She teed off the last time we played a round and it was like, holy cow! Where did that come from?"

Chloe Hunter's attitude has been a highlight during practices.

"Chloe just always smiles when she is hitting the golf ball," Coach Estill said. "She's a solid golfer and she's just got a really great attitude towards the game."

Kloie Marks was also a member of that squad that nearly made state.

"Kloie has been hitting the short game pretty well," Coach Estill said. "She's been knocking the rust off of her short game but inside she's been one of our more accurate golfers."

Chayana Stolem has been making her presence felt at Marian Hills Golf Course.

"Chayana is probably, I think our most solid all-around golfer," Coach Estill said. "She hits everything pretty well and not much seems to faze her out there."

Junior Caleigh Green is among the first time golfers, but Green has shown Coach Estill that she is capable to play with the varsity squad.

"Caleigh has been swinging the club really consistently," he said. "She finds the middle of the fairway probably more consistently than anybody else."

For the boys, junior Jacob Czereda has been making strides during the team's practices.

"He is showing a lot of improvement in his swings and we are seeing results down the fairway," Coach Estill said. "He is a tall kid. If we can get him to swing through all of his height, he will start knocking the tar off of the ball."

Sophomore Grayson Waters participated in state last season and will start the season on the varsity team.

"With Grayson, from what I understand from last year, has gained a ton over the intervening year," Coach Estill said. "He has been hitting the ball well and I really look for him to be one of our stronger golfers."

Miles Bunk also saw a lot of time on the JV squad last season.

"He is strong off the tee and approaches the game with a lot of enthusiasm," Coach Estill said.

Freshman Ezra Judd was the last varsity golfer that Coach Estill has named so far.

"Ezra is learning quick," Coach Estill said. "Not a lot of golf experience but I think as we work out a few kinks in his swing he is going to make some really good strides and be a really solid golfer by the end of the season."