The Warrenton Warriors will bring varying degrees of experience to the golf course this season. 

Warrenton head coach Aaron Jinkerson anticipates the Warriors’ varsity squad will consist of two returning varsity players and three varsity newcomers. The Warriors will be led by Maison Rader and Owen Thompson. Both Rader and Thompson have multiple years of varsity experience. Rader earned GAC North honorable mention last season. 

“I know the returning players from last year are looking for all-conference honors,” Jinkerson said. 

In his first year competing on the Warrior golf team, junior Troy Anderson will compete on the varsity roster for the Warriors. Anderson joins the golf team after playing for the Warrenton baseball team the past two years. Jinkerson said the Warriors will be inexperienced at the four and five spots to round out the varsity roster. Jinkerson stressed multiple golfers will compete for the final two spots in the varsity lineup this season. 

“Those four and five spots will be fluid,” Jinkerson said. “They’re going to be some interchangeable places I feel. Ability-wise, they’re all pretty fair. Go with the hot hand I guess would be a good way to look at it.” 

Jinkerson said the Warriors’ focus early in the season is getting out and playing golf to get their bad shots out of the way. He said they do a lot of short game practice early in the year and are trying to get their roster set for their first match, which is slated for next week. 

He stressed he is looking forward to seeing how the Warrior golfers perform in matches and tournaments. 

“Seeing them compete in a match or tournament will also solidify some spots in my head,” Jinkerson said. “You gain some experience from being at practice as well. But I like to see them compete just to see how they react in that situation. It is totally different from practice for sure.” 

Overall, Jinkerson wants the Warriors to be competitive in every match or tournament and to potentially compete for a GAC North title. He is also focused on seeing growth from the Warrenton golfers. 

“Even though we have two experienced guys coming back for varsity, we are pretty inexperienced at the varsity level. Just getting those varsity guys more comfortable competing on that level is what also I’ll be excited to see.” 

Warrenton will compete at the Bogey Hills Invite Monday in St. Charles.