The two-time South-West Conference boys' golf champions from Newtown High School know returnees to the lineup will have to turn up their level of play to be in contention for a three-peat. The Nighthawks, talented and experienced as they may be, lost their top two golfers - Josh Houle and Colin Patrick - to graduation last year.

"Our goal is to compete in every match. We need to get better as the year goes on to have a chance at postseason success," Newtown Coach Bobby Pattison said. "This will be an excellent opportunity for the returning players to step up."

Senior Mike Meyer and juniors Ryan Patrick and Ryan Kost are the captains, and David Brestovansky is another returnee whom Pattison anticipates will help lead the team.

"The expectations and pressure are high because we won the league the last two years. But you cannot live in the past. The returners this year have some varsity experience and need to lead the team," Pattison said. "I am excited to get this year underway. We do not have many seniors so we will rely on a lot of underclassmen to fill the lineup. Some of these kids have worked all year round to improve their games and now they have an opportunity to show it."

Joel Barlow of Redding and Pomperaug of Southbury are traditionally strong teams in the SWC, and Barlow won a state championship last year.

"The league has some very good teams at the top. Anyone can beat anyone," Pattison said.

Newtown, like other schools, has been limited to indoor training in the preseason thanks to snow blanketing home course Rock Ridge Country Club and other courses after the mid-March snowstorm. leftover snow and rain later in March and early April caused the first matches of the season to be postponed.

"The weather is the weather. Everyone is dealing with it," Pattison said.

The season is now set to begin on Monday, April 17, when the Hawks visit Stratford at Mill River Country Club, at 3 pm.

Once the Hawks are in full swing they hope to again be in contention for a championship.

"We're just hoping to get into SWCs this year and make a mark," Meyer said.

"We're looking for another SWC title," Kost added.