The California Pintos girls golf team will look to compete in a changed postseason format this season.
Last year, the Pintos finished in seventh place out of nine teams in the Class 1 District 2 competition with a score of 460. Father Tolton won the competition with a score of 356. The team had one golfer move on to Sectionals in Kendall Kirksey, who finished in a tie for 34th place out of 51 golfers with a score of 108.
This season, head coach Ashley Atteberry said the team will be working on getting its team scores in matches and tournaments to be lower as the season goes on.
There have been some changes in how the postseason will work for girls golf this year.
"MSHSAA has changed girls golf from two classes to four and has eliminated sectionals," Atteberry said. "So we will try to focus as a team as well as the girls playing as individuals."
The team returns only one senior this year and a mix of returning and new golfers. All of the golfers will be able to help the team, Atteberry said.
"I am looking at my lone senior, Megan VanLoo, for her leadership to help the team and I have one returning All-Conference player, Lilli Eichelberger," Atteberry said. "I have a lot of returning golfers and many new golfers too, and I think any one of them can play well on any given day."
Atteberry said that this year, the team will be focusing on its short game. She also pinpointed chipping and putting as perceived weak spots and points of focus for the Pintos this season.
The Pintos have shown their dedication to getting better over the summer, Atteberry said.
"I have really liked the dedication that I have seen from the girls throughout the summer, as most of them have come to all of the summer practices," Atteberry said.
As the season moves along, Atteberry said there are goals for both new and returning golfers alike on the team.
"For my new golfers, I would like to just see them focusing on solid contact of the ball throughout the course," Atteberry said. "For some of my more experienced golfers, I would like to see the girls being able to lower their overall golf scores throughout the season and I know they will be able to do it with their hard work and dedication."
California girls golf schedule
Aug. 28 - 8:30 a.m., vs. Odessa
Sept. 1 - 4 p.m., vs. Blair Oaks at Railwood Golf Club
Sept. 3 - 4 p.m., vs. Green Ridge
Sept. 8 - 4 p.m., vs. Boonville
Sept. 9 - 9 a.m., at Helias Invitational at Meadow Lake Country Club
Sept. 11 - 9 a.m., at Boonville Tournament at Hailridge Golf Course
Sept. 15 - 9 a.m., at Marshall Invitational at Indian Foot Hills
Sept. 17 - 4 p.m., at Camdenton Tri at Deer Chase
Sept. 21 - 4 p.m., at Boonville
Sept. 22 - 8:30 a.m., at California Invitational
Sept. 24 - 4 p.m., vs. Southern Boone
Sept. 28 - 9 a.m., Tri County Conference Tournament at California
Sept. 29 - 4 p.m., vs. Helias
Oct. 6 - 9 a.m., Districts at Lake of the Woods Columbia