Girls' golf: Providence provides

Last year's Class 1A state girls' golf tournament appearance was the first in any sport for seven-year-old Providence Academy. As such, it was a defining moment for the school and certainly the program.

"Visitation was heavily favored going into the section tournament last season," Lions coach Tim Subialka said. "They were considered the second-best team in the state in Class A. We played better than we had ever played before and upset them. It turned us from a program where we could talk about going to state to one that actually made it. Before that, we didn't know what state was, really."

Providence lost three to graduation and one to transfer, but juniors Chelsea Gross and Sarah Utz -- each entering her fifth year of varsity -- will try to lead a still-talented team back to the state tournament. And the confidence that will carry over from last year's experience, two other returning letter winners, a new assistant coach, expansion from two classes to three and the contributions of a seventh-grader make a return trip to state a real possibility for the Lions.

The Lions had a luxury of consistency through last season that's rare at the varsity level. Gross, Utz, Nicole Hillman and now-graduated seniors Emily Richardson, Brita Gilyard and Laura Utz (Sarah's older sister) golfed together on the varsity for four years. Graduation and Hillman's transfer to Benilde-St. Margaret's left Gross and Utz to carry on.

In addition to Gross and Utz, the Lions have two other letterwinners returning this season -- junior Erica Dobbs and sophomore Kathryn Kennedy. Dobbs and Kennedy both played in a number of varsity matches last season, but neither participated in the state tournament.

"They both have a ton of potential," Utz said. "They have great swings. Golf is so much a mental game. They have to get their mental game up to par. It will be fun to see how they do this year."

Gross and Utz seem to be taking their newfound leadership role seriously. While getting ready for the upcoming season, the teammates headed down to Arizona for spring break. The two juniors worked with coaches and played 18 holes every day.

"We're really excited to see if we can progress further in the state tournament," Gross said. "Sarah and I have a lot of classes together and we've been friends inside and outside of school for a long time. It's easy for us to play golf together."

The Lions are off to a good start this season, beating St. Paul Academy in a close match and trouncing Meadow Creek Christian by more than 40 strokes. The team's secret weapon this season could turn out to be seventh-grader Ashley Money, who has more than just a great sports name. Money posted the Lions' third-best score in their second match of the season.

"She's been shooting very well," Gross said. "But she's definitely scared and uncomfortable around us. It's got to be hard being the only seventh-grader on the varsity. It's interesting seeing it from the other perspective."

Gross and Utz joined the Lions as seventh-graders in 2004, the team's first year of varsity competition.

"When we started out, we were horrible," Utz said.

Another reason the Lions are brimming with confidence this season is the addition of assistant coach Aaron Jacobson, who was a staff instructor at Rush Creek Golf Academy and was the Minnesota boys' 2A state golf individual champion in 1990.

"He's a godsend," Utz said. "He's a good full swing coach, and we get to meet with him two or three times a week."

The Minnesota State High School League expanded girls' golf from two classes to three classes this year, and the Lions are the highest ranking finisher from last year's Class 1A tournament to remain in 1A.

Subialka clearly expects a lot out of his junior co-captains in the team's quest to return to state.

"Chelsea and Sarah have been in the shadows of the older players for the past four seasons," he said. "I'm looking forward to the two of them stepping up to take on a leadership role this year."

Chuck Fitzer is a University of Minnesota student reporter on assignment for the Star Tribune.