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By ADAM ADKINS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 26, 2008

TAMPA - There is no shortage of talented teams returning on the Hillsborough County golf scene in 2008, that's for sure.

Three county squads - Wharton, Berkeley Prep and Durant - have a legitimate shot at making a run at their respective state tournaments in 2008, as each team returns the bulk of their starters from a 2007 team that qualified for the state tourney.

Berkeley Prep returns the top five from its 2007 team that took 10th at the Class 1A state tournament, led by senior twin sisters Kim and Kyleen Carpenter. Bucs coach Tom Shea said the other three returners - juniors Lindsey Weiss and Desiree Meyncke, and sophomore Jessica Hahn - each have improved over the summer, giving the coach the feeling his team could again be playing in the season's final tournament.

"I'm extremely optimistic," Shea said.

Wharton star Shena Yang echoed those sentiments about her team for 2008.

"I think we are capable of going to states and probably placing in the top five," Yang said.

Led by Yang, a senior and two-time state medalist, the Wildcats return four starters from last season, with seniors Christina Vail and Kate Demick and sophomore Brittany Bradshaw also back. Also, Coach Maxine Stark expects freshman Nina Hwang to be an impact player, which is good news for a Wharton squad that has posted top-10 finishes the past two years at the Class 2A state tournament.

Durant returns four starters from 2007, led by senior Amy West, the Tribune's reigning Girls Golf Athlete of the Year. Joining West are sophomores Erika Wardzinski and Kerrie Reinhardt and senior Heather Wengyn, a key loss for the Cougars last postseason after knee and wrist injuries cut her year short.

In addition, Cougars coach Dick Sheffield is excited about freshman Madison Opfer, a player he said can score in the 70s. The coach said, on paper, it looks as though the Cougars have a great shot of making it to the 2A state tournament for the third time in the past four years.

"I think we're going to be awesome. It's qualifying as a team for state a goal on my list," said West, an individual state qualifier last season. "It was pretty boring there by myself."

Reporter Adam Adkins can be reached at (813) 657-4533 or aadkins@tampatrib.com.

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