Success has been elusive for the local varsity golf teams, but both the Valley Central Vikings and Pine Bush Bushmen are returning most of their lineups from last season as they look to improve on their respective three-win seasons.

The Vikings – with five returning starters from last season – are looking to be competitive in each match with an eye toward competing for a divisional championship.

Cam Euker is the only player to depart after last season, but the Vikings will return their Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association and Section 9 qualifier Thomas Crane a sophomore. Senior Gavin Jones is returning for his sixth varsity season. Also returning are freshman Charles Quick and Sean Maher.

They’ve also seen tremendous growth in the past two years. In Spring 2021, fresh off the COVID-19 shutdown, only seven golfers came out for the Vikings’ team, many of them inexperienced.

This year, more than 20 athletes have tried out for the team, many with more competitive experience, Valley Central coach Adam Sontag said.

New to the team will be freshman Noah Sweed and seventh-grader Caleb Hoag.

The Pine Bush Bushmen have only lost Nick Diefenbach but return Ryan Wittenberg, John Maragliano IV, James Barry, and Dylan King. Kaiden Lothrop and Patrick Curran will be new to the team this year.

“We are looking forward to continued improvement with a young team and no seniors,” Pine Bush coach Brian Shaw said. “Five of our returning golfers have a lot of match experience from last year.”

Both teams will open their season on April 11. The Bushmen will travel to the Warwick Wildcats, while the Vikings will visit the Minisink Valley Warriors.