By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac golf program will get its season started today in a pair of locations.
The varsity squad will head over to the Point O'Woods for the Coloma Invitational, while the junior varsity team will play in the Eau Claire Invitational at Pipestone Creek Golf Course.
Dowagiac returns eight players from a year ago that veteran head coach Van Johnson will count on to make the Chieftains first year in the Wolverine Conference a successful one.
"I think they play pretty good golf over there," Johnson said of the Wolverine Conference. "That's what I hear, but I really don't know. I think Gull Lake will be one of the teams to beat. Maybe Otsego."
Back for the Chieftains will be seniors Mike Hoff and Richie Hutchinson. Also back are juniors Kevin Proshwitz, Nick Krizinski and Jared Schinske. The returning sophomores are Tanner Melvin, Zack Russom and Trent Fryman.
"The first thing I look at is that our numbers are down," Johnson said. "When your numbers are down you have less choices. At the same time, I think that we have some quality players there.
"We will know right away if they have done their homework over the summer and progressed," Johnson continued. "If they did that, then we will be all right. If not, we are still on square three when we are trying to get to square five."
Johnson will know plenty about his squad by the end of this week. Dowagiac opens at Coloma today and then heads to Centreville on Tuesday and Gull Lake on Wednesday for two more invitationals.
The Coloma Invitational will be a regular, 18-hole tournament. Each player will play his own ball.
The match is scheduled to begin at noon.