The men’s team finished the 2005 season sixth in the league, while the women’s team placed ninth. With several changes, hopes are high for the Bulldogs to make big strides.

Adrian welcomes new head coach Amanda Puckett, who will lead both teams. A 2003 graduate of the University of Cincinnati, Puckett was a four-year letterwinner with the Bearcats in golf. She was the team captain during her junior and senior seasons and served on the CPAW and SACC golf committees in Cincinnati. Puckett has recently served as the manager of the Portland Golf Club in Indiana.

This season, Puckett becomes Adrian’s first full-time golf coach.

“I’m excited to be here and the golfers are excited to have their first full-time coach,” Puckett said. “I’m excited for the season coming up, and I want the teams to know I’m here all the time for them.”

The men’s team will have to replace Jimmy Roehm, its No. 1 golfer from last year. The Bulldogs have two experienced sophomores back in Mark Eberline (Novi/Novi) and Drew Mittig (Boyne City/Boyne City). Eberline averaged an 81 as a freshmen, with his best round of 77 coming on the second day of the Olivet Comet Classic. Mittig averaged an 83 last year and had his best finish at the Alma Jamboree with a round of 79.

Eberline and Mittig will serve as Adrian’s co-captains this year.

Joining the duo are three freshmen. Eric Caulkins (Hillsdale/Hillsdale), Justin Medina (Riverview/Riverview) and Jeremy Squires (Britton/Britton-Deerfield) will give the Bulldogs needed depth to their roster.

The women’s team returns junior sisters Angela and Maria Palain (Farmington Hills/Farmington). Maria averaged a 101 last year and shot her season best round of 94 in Adrian’s dual match victory over Madonna University. Angela averaged 104 last year and had her top finishes at Madonna (97) and during the first day of the MIAA Championships (99).

Freshmen Heather Losey (Pleasant Lake/Northwest) will join the Palain sisters on the women’s team.

“I want the players to set personal goals for themselves and reach them,” Puckett said. “I also want to finish better in the conference. We have a young team, and it will take time to do that, but if we set realistic goals we can hopefully compete for a conference championship.”

Each men’s team in the MIAA will host a tournament where all teams will participate. The final standings are based on the fewest total strokes in these jamborees. Meanwhile, the women’s teams will compete in three one-day, 18 hole jamborees and a season-ending two-day, 36-hole tournament. The league champion is determined by total team scores for the jamborees and the MIAA championship meet.

The Adrian men’s team will open its season Sept. 7 in the Albion College Jamboree at the Medalist Golf Course. The Bulldogs will host its jamboree Sept. 29 at Lenawee Country Club.