Some things have changed for the LeRoy-Ostrander boys' and girls' golf teams, but a lot of things have stayed the same.

The Cardinals begin the season under first-year head coach Dave Omersa on a new home course. Root River Country Club will no longer be L-O's host course, instead the Cardinals will travel to Adams and Cedar River Country Club. Defending Southeast Conference champion Southland/Grand Meadow also claims Cedar River as its home course.

"Cedar River will be host to the Section, so that will definitely help us out," Omersa said at the outset of the season. "I hope that will give us an advantage in the section tournament."

The Cardinals only advanced one golfer through to the Section meet last season -- eventual state-qualifier Erin Dohlman. Dohlman, a two-time state qualifier, was the undisputed Sub-Section 2A champion and advanced to state with a runner-up finish by one stroke at the Section 1A meet at Cedar River.

At state, Dohlman finished tied for 20th with rounds of 89-82--171.

"What's expected is that she will be going to state again," Coach Omersa said, despite his limited knowledge of his new squad.

Dohlman has golfed the past two seasons as the only girls' golfer for LeRoy-Ostrander. Two underclassmen still in the developmental stages, sophomore Joanna Boyd and freshman Brianna Runnells, will help enhance the team experience this season.

Norby leads boys

LeRoy-Ostrander's top boys' golfer -- Nick Norby -- returns to lead the Cardinals this season. Norby, a junior, tied for seventh in the Sub-Section 2A meet last season at Ramsey Golf Course in Austin, but lost out on a playoff for the right to advance to Sections.

Norby is one of five juniors on the golf squad this season. Chris Newton and Nate Miller were on the varsity roster last year, while Don Frey and Shawn Fenske hope to crack the lineup. Erick Anderson is the only L-O senior on the squad.

Nine golfers are underclassmen: freshmen -- Chris Kunert, Mark Johnson, David Johnson, Jeff Hovde; eighth-graders -- Josh Hilton, Zach Harvey; seventh-graders -- Mike Body, Allan Johnson, Ryan Rindels.

"I'm looking forward to the opportunity to work with the kids," Coach Omersa said. "It's a re-learning experience for me."

:mailto:Call Ross Thede at 434-2234 or e-mail him at sports@austindailyherald.com.