Kaiserslautern junior Asia Andrews hits the ball during a Sept. 7, 2023, round at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Andrews is the defending DODEA European girls individual champion. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern Military Community teams have been on a roll on the links.
The Ramstein boys team has won the past two titles, including coming back on the second day of the DODEA European championships to edge Wiesbaden to the win.
On the girls side, Kaiserslautern has claimed both the team and individual titles the last two years. Both individual Raider winners are back and looking to continue the run.
All will be known after the 2023 tournament at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on Oct. 12-13.
Here’s a breakdown of teams based on responses from coaches:
Aviano
The Saints experienced a steep learning curve, but if they pick up where they left off last year, they could be up for an exciting season.
Back are Alex Revella, Alan Clark and Tyler Greene. New to the squad this fall are Hayley Solis, Osten March, Andrew Dahle and Eli Evans.
Black Forest Academy
The Falcons are teeing off for the first time this fall. They are excited to get the program off the ground, according to coach Mark Crooks.
Kaiserslautern
The Raiders expect to rule the roost in the girls tournament again with all three players returning.
Senior Reigen Pezel won the tournament in 2021. Her junior teammate, Asia Andrews, took the individual crown in 2022 after finishing runner-up her freshman campaign. And rounding out the returners are team captain Shealee Moneymaker.
Junior Sofia Johnson and freshmen Mackenzie Dager and Dallas Wassum could make an impact for Kaiserslautern.
For the boys, Noah Carson will lead the team in points production and aspires to make the European tournament after just missing out in 2022. Fellow returners are Anthony Iorio, Logan Mitchell, Devin Shank and Benton Elmore.
Freshman Joseph Morrison rounds out the team.
Lakenheath
The Lancers are hoping to extend their reach on golf courses this year.
Five players from last year’s squad are returning, three of whom were on last year’s travel team. Coach Grant Severts said the goal is to advance all five – senior Lillian Davis, juniors Ethan Wright, Micah Rothas and Teddy Yost, and sophomore Jordan del Bosque – to the European championships.
New to the team are junior Clay Christensen, sophomores Kadyn Falk and Eli Nelson, and freshmen Kaleb Cummings, Joshua Alford and Aidan Davis.
Naples
The Wildcats lost three golfers to graduation, including the second- and fourth-place finishers in Casper and Christian Waldeck, and another five to PCS.
This Naples team will be hard-pressed to repeat that success with a small and young roster.
Senior Josh Myrick qualified for Euros in 2022, and coming back are junior J.J. Lapitan and sophomore David Manus.
Junior Morgan Johnson, a girls Euros qualifier last fall, transferred from Rota. Junior Kevin Gooch, sophomore Noah Kaper and freshman Owen Bradley also join the roster.
Kaiserslautern's Reigen Pezel watches ball during a travel-team qualifer on Sept. 7, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The Raider senior won the 2021 DODEA European girls individual championship. ()
Ramstein's Niko Brown puts during a travel-team qualifier on Sept. 7, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern's Devin Shank putts during a round on Sept. 7, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein golfer Mya Boynton hits on the fairway of the No. 9 hole at Woodlawn Golf Course on Sept. 7, 2023, on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Kaiserslautern's Shealee Moneymaker finishes her swing near a water hazard on the No. 8 hole during a Sept. 7, 2023, round at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Marina Martin hits out of a sand trap during a travel-team qualifier on Sept. 7, 2023, at Woodlawn Golf Course on Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Matt Wagner/Stars and Stripes)
Rota
The Admirals are young and inexperienced this year, and because of that, coach Daniel Bennett has lowered expectations for how many golfers will qualify for the final tournament.
The lone returner is Mayra Sequra Lopez. New to the team are junior Cole Waddle, sophomore Payton McWhorter and freshmen Owen Waddle, Hailey Haghverdi, Jade Smith and Jayden Friend.
Vilseck
The Falcons have limited access to practice, but that won’t stop them from holding high aspirations for the program.
Vilseck has six returning golfers, starting with four-year player Sean Zangenberg and third-year player Mason Pantoja. Second-year players include Logan Snyder, Tylek Owens, Senad Odom and Sam Vellarreal.
New to the squad are Shane Jones, William Pickeal, Xavior Wilson, Jacob Hwang, Jonas Rossario, transfer Finneas Horgan and freshman Jina Kim, Lilly Estrada, Elias Lopez, Scott Butler and Keith Brown.
Wiesbaden
The Warriors fell seven points short of capturing the boys team title last fall and could face an uphill battle to take that next step in 2023.
T.J. Rice, Brian Grieve and Cashel Lex all qualified for Euros last season. Sean Shewell, Jack Lehr, Bryson Kay, Alyssa Shewell and Molly Singleton also return for Wiesbaden.
Joining the squad are Tamer Kendall, Lindsay Molloy, Lavender Pate, Olivia Holiday, Milo Singleton, Boaz Eames and Sebastion Trujillo.
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