2015 Needles Boys Golf Capsule

Head coach: Bill Darrow, 24th season

Returning lettermen: Nine

Top golfers: Zarek Phillips (Sr.), Dakotah Masters-Mejia (Sr.), Gavin Pletcher (Jr.), Brenden Lainhart (Jr.), Joseph Garcia (So.), Destry Phillips (So.), Sam Burroughs (Jr.), Justin Smith (Sr.), Kyle Shand (Sr.)

Outlook: The defending Division III state champions bring back nine lettermen.

Phillips (76 strokes per 18 holes), Masters-Mejia (82), Garcia (85), Pletcher (87), Lainhart (89) and Smith (89) all averaged better than 90 last season.

“We lost two seniors from that team, but have a good group of kids back,” Darrow said. “If we improve this year as we did last year, we have a chance to compete for the championship again.

“The two players we lost were mid- to low-80s kids, so if we can get our number five and six to that level, we have a chance. We’re looking forward to another run and finishing at least in the top three in the state.”