When the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference kicks off its high school golf season Monday at Clarion Oaks Golf Course, all of the league's 12 teams will get together to play nine holes.

"It will give everybody a chance to see who has what coming back," said A-C Valley coach Dave Sherman.

No team will come close to bringing back the kind of talent that Sherman will be spoiled with in 2005.

The Falcons are two-time defending KSAC champions, last losing a conference match to Redbank Valley in 2003.

Returning to master the doglegs and sand traps at Foxburg Country Club will be 2004 conference MVP Ted Marron, first-team All-KSAC golfer Sean Foust and second-teamers Cody Anthony and Shawn Courson.

"So many kids around here pick up the game," said Sherman. "I don't know, maybe it's because the course is right across the street from the high school. It gives them something to do."

Sherman said Redbank Valley once again will pose the biggest obstacle between his team and a third consecutive KSAC crown.

Preview capsules for the 11 area boys teams and the two area girls teams follow:

A-C Valley

Coach:

Dave Sherman, fourth year

2004 record:

The Falcons won the KSAC with an undefeated record.

Home course:

Foxburg Country Club

Key players lost:

Andy Smith

Top returning players:

1-Ted Marron (senior); 2-Sean Foust (senior); 3-Cody Anthony (junior), 4-Shawn Courson (junior); 5-John Kaufman (senior)

In the mix:

junior John Sallee and freshman Luke McCall

Sherman says:

"Our goal is another KSAC title. These kids, they just keep maturing and getting better."

Butler

Coach:

Hank Keller, 14th year

2004 record:

7-10

Home course:

Butler Country Club

Key players lost:

Joe Palermo, Cory Young

Top returning players:

1-Aaron Ordy (senior); 2-Brandon Johnston (senior); 3-Collin Randall (junior); 4-Nick Blymiller (junior); 5-Matt Maloy (sophomore); 6-Andrew Shakely (sophomore)

In the mix:

Freshmen Christian Mato and Antonio Baroffio

Keller says:

"We've now had two straight losing seasons since winning the WPIAL title in 2002. We're trying to get back to winning without putting too much pressure on our sophomores and freshmen."

Freeport

Coach:

Dave Panach, 16th year

2004 record:

The Yellowjackets finished 17-2 overall and won the WPIAL's Division II, Section 1 with a 13-1 mark.

Home course:

Buffalo Golf Course

Key players lost:

Matt Krchnak and Josh Craig

Top returning players:

1-Joe Krowsoski (senior), 2-Mat Caripolti (junior), 3-Dan Mattioli (senior), 4-Matt Giesler (junior), 5-Tyler Hill (junior), 6-Clay Fritz (sophomore)

In the mix:

juniors D.J. Lingelbach and Cory Massart

Panach says:

"We're going to make sure that we're in the thick of things. Hopefully, we'll be able to upset some of the top teams in our section like St. Joseph's and Ford City."

Grove City

Coach:

Pat Forese, sixth year

2004 record:

The Eagles won District 10, Region 2

Home course:

Grove City Country Club

Key players lost:

None

Top returning players:

1-Cameron Peterson (junior); 2-Derek Forese (sophomore); 3-Tony Campagna (senior); 4-Zach Nesbit (junior); 5-Kelly Chutz (junior); 6-Zach Frankenburg (senior)

In the mix:

Juniors Phil Lehman and Jordan Fee, sophomore Garrett Molloy and freshman Steve Deyarmin

Forese says:

"We're hoping to repeat as region champs. Hopefully, everybody will perform up to their capabilities."

Karns City

Coach:

Pat Preston, fifth year

2004 record:

The Gremlins finished around .500

Home course:

St. Jude Golf Club

Key players lost:

Shannon Christie

Top returning players:

seniors Logan McCracken and Nathan Shirey

In the mix:

junior Beau Bachman and sophomores Saxson Parker and Matt Hillwig

Preston says:

"The young kids have been doing well and our success this season depends on their play."

Knoch

Coach:

Rob Voltz, fourth year

2004 record:

9-9

Home course:

Saxon Golf Course

Key players lost:

Kevin Zitzman

Top returning players:

1-Rob Gillespie (senior); 2-Tom Gillespie (junior); 3-Nate Rihn (senior); 4-John Hook (junior); 5-Cam Fusko (junior); 6-Joe Sopcisak (sophomore)

In the mix:

junior Jeff Arndt

Voltz says:

"Our top five guys are very steady. They're always around 40, but a few of them have shot a 36 in practice."

Mars (boys)

Coach:

Tim Tyler, fourth year

2004 record:

10-8

Home course:

Rittswood Golf Course

Key players lost:

Mike Lewis, Steve Brace, Jordan Buterbaugh, Scott Martinelli

Top returning players:

1-Brian Routhieaux (junior); 2-Dave Casteel (senior); 3-Jeff Baur (senior); 4-Steve Smail (senior)

In the mix:

senior Tom Day, junior Greg Hilscher and sophomore R.J. Hardt

Tyler says:

"We look to be in pretty good shape. Dave and Brian are tremendous golfers. Hopefully, we can break a streak of three straight years of missing the playoffs by one match."

Mars (girls)

Coach:

Bill Pettigrew, second year

2004 record:

5-10

Home course:

Rittswood Golf Course

Key players lost:

None

Top returning players:

senior Becky Pappas, juniors Lauren Glew, Marissa Glew, Lauren Chadowski and sophomores Lisa Moser and Katherine Howe.

In the mix:

senior Katie O'Shields, junior Megan Gibson, sophomore Gabrielle Piesniak and freshman Brittany Jones

Pettigrew says:

"The difference between this year and last year (the team's first season) is like night and day. We're hoping to improve on our record and from what I've seen in practice, we should be able to do that."

Moniteau

Coaches:

Domenica Zingone and Machelle Spence-Scott, first year

2004 record:

n/a

Home course:

Shamrock Golf Course

Key players lost:

Tyler Hunter

Top returning players:

Cory Campbell, Devin Christie, Jerred Carr, Erik Fort, Cody Slater and Cody Klingler

In the mix:

sophomores Cody Stewart, Paul Thompson and William Linton

Zingone says:

"The boys have been playing very well and I think it should be a good season for them."

Seneca Valley (boys)

Coach:

Steve Mayes, 17th year

2004 record:

10-4

Home course:

Cranberry Highlands Golf Course

Key players lost:

Mike Riederer

Top returning players:

Seniors Jason Camp, Kevin Day, Brett Spagnola, Eric Hajduk and Wes Roberts

In the mix:

junior Kirk Pappas and sophomores John Raymus and Dave Roberts

Mayes says:

"I'd like to think we have a shot to do well this season, with our goal being to win the section. But they're kids, and you never know how things are going to turn out."

Seneca Valley (girls)

Coach:

Lynn Wagner, sixth year

2004 record:

9-6

Home course:

Connoquenessing Country Club

Key players lost:

Lauren Torso and Whitney Wilkinson

Top returning players:

senior Ashley Arrington, juniors Chelsie Schade, Jill Bramby and Samantha Craig and sophomore Shannon O'Halloran

In the mix:

senior Kayla Belack, junior Emily Campbell and sophomore Jordin Belack

Wagner says:

"It seems like every year is a rebuilding year for us. I'm just hoping that the gap between our top players and the other girls can be narrowed a bit."

Slippery Rock

Coach:

Merle Whitmer, 21st year

2004 record:

The Rockets finished last in District 10, Region 2

Home course:

Oakview Golf Club

Key players lost:

Wes LeFebvre, Josh Hoover, Tim Busi and Matt Ralcewicz

Top returning players:

juniors Chris Miller and Chris Newcomb and sophomores Nick Cress and Jesse Badgett

In the mix:

junior Sean LeFebvre and freshmen Jeffrey Tracy, Matt Chavez and Derrick Orloski

Whitmer says:

"We don't want to end up in the cellar again. We're hoping we can surprise some teams. There's a lot to learn about life in the game of golf."

Union

Coach:

Tom Minick, seventh year

2004 record:

8-4

Home course:

Clarion Oaks Golf Course

Key players lost:

Adam Milanovich, Devin Davis, Landon Cicciarelli and Cody Mortimer

Top returning players:

senior Billy Burns

In the mix:

senior Chris Beichner and sophomores Spencer Varner, John Heeter and Clay Burns

Minick says:

"Many of the kids on this year's team don't have any varsity experience, but they have played a lot of golf. Hopefully, after they get comfortable on the course, they'll be OK."