Hoping to build on a successful 2011 season, the golf team is looking forward to a productive fall.

The team’s match against B-CC, Northwest and Quince Orchard Sept. 10 ended with the Bulldogs finishing third with a score of 207. The Bulldogs took on Damascus, Quince Orchard and Walter Johnson Sept. 13 and finished third, scoring a total of 191. Overall, the team holds the fifth spot out of eight teams in its division, with a total score of 621 in three matches.

“The games aren’t our best,” senior captain Kathleen Gaultney said. “It’s still the beginning, and usually we end up doing better as the season progresses.”

The Bulldogs took on Damascus, Northwest and Wootton at Redgate Golf Course Sept. 4. The team tied with Wootton for first place, finishing with a score of 205.

“This year’s team is much younger, and the entire team is more ready to compete than in the past,” head coach Mike Fisher said.

The Bulldogs started their season against Damascus, Whitman and B-CC Aug. 29 at Bretton Woods Golf Club with a third place finish, scoring 209.

“We didn’t do that great in our first match, but I expect that we will improve every match we play,” freshman Luke Schaap said.

Despite the disappointing results of the earlier matches, the Bulldogs continue to remain positive that they will have a winning season.

“I expect this year’s team to do amazing with all the great players we have,” freshman Adam Gray said. “I think that if we play well, we will, without a doubt, win states.”

The team welcomes freshmen standouts Schaap and Gray, who hope to help the team reach its goal of winning the district and state championships.

“We have a very deep and talented team, and I expect to be very competitive throughout the season,” Fisher said. “The quantity and quality of talented freshmen has never been this deep.”

The team rounded out the month with a match Sept. 18 against Wootton, Walter Johnson and B-CC and another Sept. 24 against Quince Orchard, Wootton and Whitman.

“Our team is so deep this year that no one player will have to step up,” senior captain Zach Satin said. “A good, solid team effort will help us be successful.”

Aside from winning, the team places significant importance on teamwork and close relationships that come with being part of a team. Team captains organize team dinners and trips to local attractions like mini golf to help boost team chemistry.

“We have such a great team of athletes who are also so much fun to be around,” Gray said. “We will always be a team, and that’s all that really matters.”