The Atlantic Girls Golf team will begin play today in the Class 3A State Golf Tournament at Lake Panorama National Golf Course in Panora and the Trojans are ready to defend their title from last season. The Trojans qualified for state with a Regional Final win at 5×80 Golf Course in Menlo last week. The Trojans shot 361 at that final to win it by 26 strokes over Kuemper Catholic but despite the big win Atlantic Head Coach Kathy Hobson said they can play even better.

Brooke Newell was Runner-Up at the Regional Final with an 85 and she has been a strong leader for the Trojans throughout her career. Coach Hobson said there is strong leadership throughout the whole group but it definitely helps having Brooke lead the charge.

The Trojans have made an effort to challenge themselves with tough tournaments all season and Coach Hobson knows that will certainly help at the State Tournament because they have already competed against a lot of those teams. When asked about a number goal for the weekend Coach Hobson said she thinks they will need to go a little lower than last year to defend their title.

Coach Hobson thinks the experience of winning it last year should make the girls comfortable and give them a slight advantage playing there again. She said she doesn’t fell like there is pressure on them as defending champs. Play will continue Wednesday in Panora.