Panthers start in RivertonA young Panther golf team will make its season debut in Riverton today (Thursday),and head coach Troy Hildebrand is looking forward to getting started.“I am very excited about this year's team,” he said. “We've had a number of players put a lot of time in this summer, and I really think that it's going to pay big dividends this season for them.”One of the team's distinctive features will be its youth — there are no seniors on the roster. However, three returning players have significant varsity experience from last year.Bryan Borcher, a two-time letter winner, is one of those experienced players who played a lot of summer golf, Hildebrand said.Last year, as a sophomore, Borcher was named as the team's most improved, shaving 11 shots from his average score as a freshman.“He's certainly capable of that same type of improvement this year,” Hildebrand said.

The coach expects Borcher's fellow junior, AJ Anderson, to challenge for a varsity spot throughout the season. After some seasoning on the junior varsity squad last year, and a “good summer of playing,” Anderson made varsity for this week's Riverton tournament.Returning sophomores Zane Bushnell and Colt Nix bring a year's worth of varsity experience back to the team.Hildebrand said their scores are looking better already.“They both came out of the gates Monday morning with their best qualifying scores to date, which is a great sign,” he said.Also returning as sophomores are Drew Magill and Dillon Jeffs. Hildebrand thinks they'll be in the mix for tournament spots this year.The team also is welcoming five freshman to the team, who Hildebrand called “a solid group.”Brian Morse and Brady Schaefer already qualified for the Riverton tourney, and Hildebrand said Colter Adolph, Kyle Anderson, and Dusty Borcher have shown “solid potential” for landing tournament slots this year.On the girl's side, newcomer Saige Smith, a junior, will represent the Lady Panthers. Hildebrand said Smith is improving, and hopes she'll be ready for tournament play by mid-season.The PHS team will tee off at the two-day Riverton Invitational at noon today and 9 a.m. tomorrow (Friday).