RETURNING LETTERWINNERS FOR THE WEBSTER CITY GIRLS GOLF SQUAD are, front row (left to right): Haydin Sealine, Abby Heckert, Mylie Keller and Ellie Peterson. Back: Hayden McCoy, Carli Jessen, Alleyna Dawson and Kenley Koop. (Photo by Patrick Coons)

Veteran Webster City girls golf coach Jeff Lyons understands that there will be a learning curve on the links this spring.

But Lyons has complete confidence that his returning players will help the newcomers work through it.

“We really need to get our chipping and putting down coming into the season,” Lyons said. “It will be crucial that once we get on the green that we can get (into the hole) in two (strokes).”

Seniors Alleyna Dawson, Kenley Koop and Ellie Peterson anchor the lineup. Dawson had an average nine-hole score of 55, which led the Lynx, as Koop finished with a 57 average for nine and Peterson was just under 58.

“I expect Alleyna, Kenley and Ellie to help the underclassmen with the rules of the game and what it takes in order to make them more successful,” Lyons said. “They will also be captains and leaders for us on the course.”

Juniors Hayden McCoy, Carli Jessen and Mylie Keller are joined by sophomores Haydin Sealine and Abbie Heckert. All five gained valuable experience last spring. Keller played in seven total meets; Sealine, in eight.

“We will need Hayden, Carli, Mylie, Haydin and Abbie to step up,” Lyons said. “It will be important that one of them gives us a fourth counting scorer that we can rely on in order to put a good team total together.”

In all, seven of the Top-8 from a year ago return for Lyons, who is looking to compete for a upper-half North Central Conference finish while building toward the postseason.

Webster City was fifth at the NCC Tournament a year ago. Keller and Dawson were the top performers. The Lynx earned a pair of dual wins over Manson Northwest Webster and St. Edmond.

Webster City opens the season on Tuesday — weather permitting — in Manson against the Cougars, followed by back-to-back conference triangulars involving Clear Lake, Humboldt, Clarion-Goldfield/Dows and Hampton-Dumont.

The squad’s home debut is set for May 5 against Algona and Iowa Falls-Alden at the Webster City Links Golf Course.