Washington will need to hold off multiple challengers in its quest to repeat as Mid-Illini Conference boys golf champions.

The action starts quickly as the Panthers face Metamora, one of the teams pursuing the 2008 crown, in the league opener Tuesday at Snag Creek Golf Course.

Washington also got a look Monday at last season’s M-I runner-up, Pekin, in an 18-hole quadrangular at Lick Creek Golf Course.

“We’re off and running. It will be interesting to see how it works out,” said WCHS head coach Dwight Hershberger.

Senior Sam Norbom heads the list of Panther returnees.

Norbom, a former state qualifier and Junior River Cup veteran, is slated to earn his fourth varsity letter.

He was a first-team all-conference selection in ’07 after earning second-team distinction as a sophomore.

Nick McClellan, a junior, also brings Junior River Cup experience and an improving
game into the fold.

Like Norbom on the varsity side, McClellan was the M-I tournament runner-up at the junior-varsity level.

Sophomore Austin Worner qualified as well for the annual Peoria-TazWood competition, and he figures to be in the varsity mix.

Seniors Cody Smock and David Dalfonso were part of last year’s varsity and are expected to contribute again.

Ryan Williams, a junior, is a transfer from Brimfield who has garnered a look.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is from Canada, and Zac Cronkhite lead the group of freshmen players.

Zach Jacobs, the brother of graduated first-team all-league performer Ben, has made strides entering his sophomore campaign.

“The kids look good,” Hershberger said. “We have a nice group.”

The mentor said as many as 10 players could vie for varsity time, which will create consistent competition there and also give the JV squad some firepower.

Others on the Washington roster include: senior D.J. Toon; juniors — Trevor Underwood, Adam Rankin and Joel Berryman; sophomores — Nick Finney and Thomas Orr; and freshmen — Cory Cooper, Alex Frost, Alex Dolan and Nick Lauss.

“We look good for this year and we should have a strong team next year,” said Hershberger.
Monday at Pekin, the Panthers shot a 508 in a quadrangular in which six 18-hole scores were used.

Washington trailed Waterloo (492) and the hosts (502), but edged Bloomington (511).

Norbom was second on the day with a three-over-par 75, two shots in back of a Purple Raider golfer.

The next five Panthers all were within two shots of one another.

Williams, Dalfonso and Jacobs each carded 86s, Smock had an 87 and McClellan submitted an 88.

Waterloo was the lone team with two sub-80 rounds at the par-72 course.

In the JV portion with four scores counting, Bloomington won with a 371, while Washington was 13 strokes behind. Pekin totaled a 396.

Among the personnel losses from last fall were Ben Jacobs, Wes Maxheimer, who had a hot finish to his senior season, including an even-par 72 in the Class 2A Notre Dame Regional, and Drew Blumenshine. 

Blumenshine was a key component of the Panther squad in ’07 as a freshman.

There is no clear-cut favorite in the conference.

In addition to Washington, Pekin and Metamora, Dunlap is another title contender.

“One stroke can change your season,” Hershberger said.

The M-I tournament is at Canton Country Club, which should be fairly neutral like Peoria Park District’s Leo Donovan was a year ago.

The Panthers stormed past defending winner Pekin for the championship after firing a 309 in which four varsity linksters were in the 70s at the par-71 layout.

The Little Giants’ tournament Sept. 27, five days before the league finale, will be solid preparation for the boys.

The Washington schedule basically is the same. The team next is in action Saturday in the Quincy Invitational.