Class 4A

Glenwood Springs

Head coach: Bryan Whiting, eighth year.

Top players: Senior Kevin Flohr, junior Kyle Winkler, junior Robert Reynolds, sophomore Travis Franklin.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Home tournament: Aug. 30 at Glenwood Springs Golf Club, 9 a.m.

Coach's outlook: “If our best players continue to develop and did the work they needed over the summer, we could contend, be in the top five at the Western Slope tourneys,” Whiting said. “Potentially, we could have four players who can consistently play in the 80s, and a couple of them should break into the 70s. We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores out, and an important thing for them would be to continue to improve as a team and learn how to handle tournament pressure.”

Class 3A

Rifle

Head coach: Mark Fergen, second year.

Top players: Sophomore Danny Bartels, sophomore Triston Quigley, junior Jacob Withee, freshman Tieg Hauer, freshman Ty Caron.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Home tournament: Aug. 23 at Rifle Creek Golf Course, 8 a.m.

Coach's outlook: “I really think this team can make state,” Fergen said. “If not, with us going down to 3A, I think, at a minimum, we can have three kids make it to state from regionals. … The kids all have great attitudes. They're all young, all committed. We just had a meeting to find out their level of commitment and every one of them said, ‘Hey coach, we'll be here for a while. We all want to win.' The attitude of the team is awesome.”

Also of note: New to the Rifle golf coaching staff this fall is Kyle Daniel, the assistant pro at Rifle Creek.

Coal Ridge

Head coach: Jemiah Fowler, second year.

Top players: Senior Casey Lawrence, sophomore Cassidy Lawrence, freshman Tyler Scott.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Home tournament: Sept. 16 at Lakota Canyon Ranch Golf Club, 8 a.m.

Coach's outlook: “I think, best-case scenario, all three [Casey Lawrence, Cassidy Lawrence, Scott] get to state,” Fowler said. “It's a young team, mostly freshmen and sophomores, and we've got a solid 15 kids this year, with two seniors in the group. We've got a really young, inexperienced group. Overall, the team goal is to get three to state. I would be really happy with getting three kids. I really would. I'd be happy getting one, but there's no reason we can't have three.”

Grand Valley

Head coach: Scott Carpenter, third year.

Top players: Senior Dylan Walters, junior Douglas Mikesell.

Returning state qualifier: Dylan Walters.

Home tournament: Today at Battlement Mesa Golf Course, 8 a.m.

Coach's outlook: “While we had other that were improving last year, I am still waiting for that strong third player to step up consistently so that we can contend as a team,” Carpenter said.

Roaring Fork

Head coach: Dale Worton, first year.

Top players: Senior Micah Evonitz, junior Trenton Reeds, junior Thomas Cerise.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Home tournament: None.

Coach's outlook: “We have some good prospects and we have some who need a little work,” Worton said. “I'm hoping, by the end of the season, everyone is shooting scores they've never shot before and that they feel a little more comfortable getting around the golf course. … I am hoping we can take a couple kids to state. That's my goal for my first year.”

About the new coach: Worton is a 2003 Rifle High School graduate who went on to attend Golf Academy of America in South Carolina. He held a couple of jobs in South Carolina — at Barefoot Resort and Golf and the Thornblade Club — before recently deciding to return to Colorado to be closer to his family. With a wife and baby boy, Worton also recently started a family of his own.

Williams on the way out: Larry Williams, a teacher at Roaring Fork who spent the last five years as the school's boys golf coach, had to give up the job because his class load increased. “I just can't miss that much school,” he said. Williams will continue to coach boys basketball during the winter sports season.