With the return of five letterwinners, the Flying Dutch hope to continue their climb in the standings of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).
A year ago the Flying Dutch finished fourth in the seasonal standings after placing sixth in 2006.
Coach Eva Dean Folkert begins her fourth season at the helm of the Flying Dutch golf program. She also serves on the national advisory committee for the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championships.
The pre-season roster includes nine freshmen, three sophomores, no juniors and two seniors.
Captain of the team is junior Cassie Sneller of Holland, Mich. (Hamilton HS). As a sophomore she was the medalist in three tournaments. Her old sister, Holly, was captain of the team in 2006.
The returning senior letterwinners are Sarah Lokers of Hamilton, Mich. (Hamilton HS) and Brittany Posma of Zeeland, Mich. (Zeeland HS). The rest of the returning letterwinners are sophomores -- Katie Blodgett of Traverse City, Mich. (St. Francis HS), and Jori Niemann of Elmhurst, Ill. (York Community HS).
The Flying Dutch play a fall and spring schedule. The fall schedule, which determines the seasonal MIAA champion, will include four 18-hole jamborees and a 36-hole championship round. The spring schedule, consisting of three 18-hole rounds, determines the MIAA qualifier to the NCAA Division III championships.
Hope will have two home meets, a season-opening non-league double dual on Saturday, Aug. 30, and the annual Hope Invitational on Tuesday, Oct. 7, both at the Macatawa Legends Country Club.
The 2007-08 Flying Dutch were named to the MIAA Team GPA Honor Roll for a seventh consecutive year. Sarah Lokers was named to the 07-08 MIAA Academic Honor Roll.