NOTE: This 2011 boys and girls golf preview covers the area from north Scottsdale west through Phoenix, the southwest and northwest Valley, northwest Arizona, northern Arizona and northeast Arizona, including Native American communities.

By Don Ketchum

It won’t be easy for Phoenix Pinnacle to overcome the likes of teams such as Mesa Red Mountain, Phoenix Desert Vista and Chandler Hamilton in the 2011 boys golf state tournament, but the Pioneers will give it a shot.

On the girls side, Glendale Mountain Ridge and Anthem Boulder Creek are among the teams most likely to challenge the powerful southeast Valley contingent of schools.

The Pinnacle boys finished third in the Class 5A Division I tournament last season.

Pinnacle coach Jay Thomas said his top player, senior Zach Wright, is capable of challenging for the individual title. Wright tied for fifth a year ago. Another key player is Shane Allor.

The Boulder Creek boys finished 11^th last season, and had one player finish in the top 10 – Brenden Bone (tied for 10^th). Bone is back for his junior year along with brother Alec.

Jaguars coach Jay Kopas expects to get good senior leadership from Nick Norgaard, Conrad Smith and Kevin Karlson.

Peoria Liberty had a strong regular season for coach Ron Anderson, but finished a disappointing 17^th at state. It’s a new season and Anderson will rely on a talented group of junior returnees – Adam Shackelton, Fields Soumas Kyrkas, Thomas Beauchamp and Jack Larson.

“This season, every match is key,’’ said Anderson. “We have 14 attempts to hit the (state) qualifying score five times. And doing so is twice as hard to hit this year as last.’’

Nick Rizer stepped down as Peoria Sunrise Mountain’s softball coach, but he still has golf to keep the competitive juices flowing. He will rely on two key seniors – Tommy Marino and Thomas Torrez – and junior Brady Edwards.

Eric Gurule will have a young team at Phoenix Thunderbird this season, but it is one that is capable of keeping the scores low on a regular basis.

The kiddie corps consists of sophomores Logan Gardner and John Souza and freshmen Steve Otlewski, Dustin Howerton and Dan Starzinski.

Phoenix Sunnyslope coach Trent Otis likes the all-around game of junior Michael Guardiola, who qualified for the state tournament in every match but one last season. Junior Mitch Donley also should be a factor. The Vikings have all 12 of its team members returning and a talented group of freshmen waiting in the wings.

River Valley finished 12^th in the Division III tournament and appears to be in a better position to make a charge this time around.

Top players for coach Lucas Lechman are senior Hayes Dupree and brother Morgan Dupree, a sophomore; and senior Jared Lohman.

GIRLS

Mountain Ridge will attempt to move up this season after finishing ninth in the state tournament.

Long-time coach Gary King is looking for good things from sophomore Carly Akine, who tied for 16^th as a freshman and was the Northwest Region champ. Senior Leah Marlow is a four-year starter.

Dustin Riley, in his second season as Boulder Creek coach, has a strong player in senior Kelly Flynn and three good sophomores – Amanda Langston, Shayla Noorgard and Sydney Meyer.

Glendale Raymond S. Kellis has a potentially good team led by Mary Driscol, who finished 12^th at state.

Mark Ernster has developed a strong  baseball program at Liberty, and his golf team is making its mark. The Lions are led by senior Olivia Boe and junior Amanda Crites.

Vicki Turrell takes over the program at Goodyear Millennium, and lists these players as her leaders -- Makenna Manos, Mercedes Brown, Corinne Loncar and Taylor Erdmann.