Scots in for building year

The Shorecrest boys and girls golf teams head into the 2004 season in much the same shape.

“They’re young, we’re young,” girls coach Robin Martin said. “It’s a building year for both of us.”

Graduation created four openings on the girls varsity roster, but just six girls turned out.

Junior Carmie Malabanan and senior Zoe White return at the top of Shorecrest’s ladder. Malabanan was the first alternate to state at last year’s Northwest District 3A tournament.

“She was one stroke back,” Martin said. “She really showed us a lot of strength towards the end of the season. She was feeling much more confident.”

At Shorecrest’s season-opening Wesco South match last week Malabanan tied for second behind Shorewood senior Kim Shin, the defending 4A state champion.

“Carmie is very committed this year. She’s hitting balls all the time,” Martin said. “We anticipate her going to state.”

As the Shorecrest boys team’s sixth coach in as many seasons, Brian Story hopes to bring some stability to the program.

He’s already envisioning a bright future for the Scots.

“We’re a real young team,” Story said. “We’ll call it a rebuilding year, but we’re looking tough for the next couple.”

Shorecrest’s senior-less lineup is stocked with six sophomores, one junior and a pair of freshmen. Most are close in skill level.

“They’re all coming in as scrappers,” Story said. “We’re trying to get them to hit the fairways with their drives and play smart golf.”

Sophomore Ben Kreins advanced to the second day of last year’s district tournament but finished a few strokes back of the state qualifiers.

Junior Eugene Kang, sophomores Andrew Hatch and Alex Hugh and freshmen Kai Aoki and Avi Singh round out the top six.

“Our goal for the season is to have everybody shooting in the low 40s,” Story said. “We’d like to see Ben make it through to state. It’s possible. Right now he’s shooting in the low 40s and high 30s. He just needs to string it together for 18 holes.”