Picture this: another great Xavier golf team

Sr. Lynn Winsor has had many roles during her years at Xavier Prep, including athletic director and golf coach. In recent years, she also has assumed the role of paparazzi.

She takes photos at many of the school’s sports events, some of which are posted on the XCP Web site, and she is back at it as the golf season comes into view for the fall of 2017.

Winsor snapped a few photos prior to Wednesday’s (Aug. 9) first day of team tryouts at Phoenix Country Club. A list will be compiled and shown at a social gathering at the end of the season.

The Gators are hoping that will include memories of another state championship run, but they realize that nothing will be handed to them despite having won 34 titles overall.

It all starts now.

As the girls teed off for the first of three consecutive 9-hole rounds on back-to-back-to-back days, Winsor said she and co-coach Tui Selvaratnam are confident the group will produce success.

 “We have so many good golfers trying out that we do not know how many we will take,’’ Winsor said.

Candidates include a few freshmen, a few transfers and a strong group of returnees led by sophomore Ashley Menne, last year’s state co-medalist.

The final list will be announced on Monday (Aug. 14). Before then, the girls will be required to play an 18-hole round over the weekend and present their scorecards to the coaches.

The team will have three qualifying rounds next week as they get closer to the season-opening match on Aug. 22 against Scottsdale Desert Mountain at Phoenix Country Club. Xavier will play many of its home matches there and a few more at Camelback Golf Club late in the season.

All of the players, even the newcomers, have been playing in various junior golf events earlier this year.

Although the group that comprises the team that will contribute to the scoring with each match, that can change, meaning it’s good to have depth.

“Some schools don’t have big teams, but we don’t mind at all,’’ Winsor said. “The girls are out here to enjoy this activity, represent their school and in many cases will make friends for life and that is what we like to see.’’

Winsor and Selvaratnam will be evaluating the players “and watching them all play,’’ Winsor said. “We want to see how they react to each other, react to the situations that occur out on the course. Our first match will be coming up soon.

“The time we have now is important. The kids might be putting a little pressure on themselves, even the older ones, because they want to do well.

“We are all excited and enthusiastic and we want to see how low our scores are.’’