MOSES LAKE - A strong contingent of returning players could make the new golf campaign a successful one for the Moses Lake Chiefs.

With three seniors leaders in Gabe Porter, Randy McNair, and Austin Sandman leading the way and a large group of veterans coming back to the Chiefs' program a chance to improve on last year's fourth place finish in Columbia Basin Big 9 POD play could be possible.

"Our three senior leaders are a strength and they will help lead some of the younger guys as they all compete for varsity matches," Moses Lake head coach J.R. Cox said. "But we are so young with a large group of sophomores and freshman. They haven't been in the fire yet and they will get better as their experience goes up. We may start slow but we will get better match after match."

The three seniors could finish out their careers on a strong note considering their past play as well as junior Austin Rogers'.

"Gabe and Randy will be the anchors and should be near the top match after match," Cox said. "Gabe missed the state tournament last year by one shot. Randy had a good summer and is prime to break out this year. Austin Sandman and Austin Rogers have experience and I expect them to be good players in our three and four spots." 

Sophomores Brenden Cox, Derek Hansen, and Tanner Montgomery could also threaten to be top performers with a little more seasoning to add on to their occasional varsity experiences in 2010.

"We also have two freshmen who will be right in the mix this year as well," J.R. Cox said of Nick Sutherland and Kellen Roelich. "Their games are good enough to compete and they will get better and better with the competition experience."

Coach Cox favors Richland and Walla Walla as the top Big 9 dogs but won't count his team out of the mix for postseason honors. 

"We feel we can finish somewhere in the top three," he said. "We also feel we can qualify at least two for the state tournament."

MOSES LAKE CHIEFS (4A)

Head coach: J.R. Cox (11th year)

2010 overall record: Not applicable

2010 league record: Fourth in POD play

2010 postseason: None

Number of returnees: Nine

ROSTER: SENIORS - Randy McNair, Gabe Porter, and Austin Sandman; JUNIOR - Austin Rogers; SOPHOMORES - Brenden Cox, Derek Hansen, and Tanner Montgomery; FRESHMEN - Kellen Roelich and Nick Sutherland.