Last year the same group of golfers competed in each match for the Sedro-Woolley boys’ golf team.

That won’t happen again this season as a group of younger golfers are swinging for varsity spots, hoping to join upperclassmen Nolan Schweigert and Galen Hyatt.

“Last season there was a lot of leadership — they were really easy to coach because they had been doing it the same way for a few years,” said first-year head coach Dallas Betz. “But (Schweigert and Hyatt) are both solid guys who can be mentors on the team.”

The duo will make up one third of the six varsity golfers on the team, but the remaining four have not been decided on, Betz said. Junior Dave Paulson, who played junior varsity last season, could be a candidate for varsity if he continues to improve, the coach said, while two freshmen — Kevin Braun and Trent Gardner — could also be competing for varsity spots on the team.

“(Paulson) has a ton of potential if he sticks with it,” Betz said. “(Braun) is probably the hardest-working golfer we have and spent the entire off-season working on his game. (Gardner) played in middle-school and has a lot of natural ability.”

So far, Betz has received a lot of help with his new coaching responsibilities. Schweigert has stepped into an assistant coaching role due to a wrist injury he sustained during basketball season. Former boys’ coach Gene Murray has also helped Betz so far during the season, as well as new assistant coach Doug Preston.

Betz said about 15 golfers turned out this year, so he said that will hopefully help push the varsity players to improve.

“Everybody has potential,” he said. “It’s a well-rounded group.”