Sisters girls golf coach Mary Flande is putting it lightly when she says, of her team: “This group has an opportunity to win districts.”

That opportunity last season produced a 109-stroke victory at the district championships.

“And,” she continues, “to make a very strong showing at state.”

The strong showing a year ago was a Class 4A-3A-2A-1A state championship — by 17 strokes.

Granted, she explains, the dimpled ball did roll Sisters’ way on Eagle Crest Resort’s Ridge Course in last year’s state tournament, where all her players happened to post career bests.

But here’s something Flande can’t downplay: “We did not lose any players from last year’s team.”

The defending state champions not only return every varsity golfer, but also they picked up Ocean Powell, a transfer from South Eugene High School, who Flande says will be in the Outlaws’ varsity mix.

Entering her 12th season as Sisters’ coach, Flande, who also serves as the school’s athletic director, can’t say whether this is the most talented Sisters girls golf team ever.

But she does say her players have improved in the offseason.

That’s a scary thought for Outlaw opponents, considering four Sisters players ended last year with rounds under 90 strokes.

At the top of the Outlaw leaderboard is junior Lindsay Reeve, who echoes her coach on the topic of the team’s offseason improvement.

“I think it definitely is a better team,” Reeve says. “But we just need to focus on it, one shot at a time.”

As Sisters’ top seed last season, Reeve shot a 176 in the district championships at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. That score was good for first place, 14 strokes ahead of teammate and second-place finisher Alexis Wainwright. A week later at the state tournament, Reeve posted a fourth-place 166 to cap off her sophomore season.

She’s even better this year.

“I worked a lot over the winter on my short game,” says the junior standout, who had a 7-stroke handicap at the end of last season. “I dropped my handicap to about a 2.”

Junior Shelby Ross and seniors Meghan Crowder, Claire Mutchler and Wainwright will be right behind Reeve at the top of what Flande calls a dogfight for varsity spots.

This season’s first indication of which players will fill the six Outlaw varsity spots takes place Thursday against Stayton and Madras at Crooked River Ranch Golf Course.

“We’ve really been working on our game from 150 (yards) in,” Flande says, adding that this season will be the first for Sisters as the team to beat in its state classification.

If the Outlaws are going to stay ahead of teams like St. Mary’s of Portland — which finished second at the state tournament last season — Flande says they need to improve their chipping, their putting, and their mental toughness.

But when talking about the opportunity to coach the same players again this season, the veteran coach never starts off with individual statistics, team standings, or even golf.

Rather, Flande talks about how much fun the team has together.

“They’re the best,” she says.

Sisters isn’t the only loaded girls golf team in Central Oregon. Kathleen Adame and Marlee Barton return for Summit after helping the Storm win the Class 5A state championshipin 2007, and Jennifer Hilts, Whitney Weber, Brittany Bruening and Ashley Evert are all back for a Bend High team that finished third at state in 5A. In Class 6A, Sierra Duncan, Sami Ferrara and Jill Westendorf look to lead Redmond to its second consecutive Central Valley Conference championship and improve on its fourth-place finish at last season’s state tournament.

2008 prep girls golf outlook

REDMOND PANTHERS

Coach: Vicki Sime (18th season).

2007 record: First place at Central Valley Conference Championships; fourth place at Class 6A state championship tournament.

Returning varsity players: Sierra Duncan, Sami Ferrara and Jill Westendorf.

Team strengths: Mix of experience and eagerness.

Team weaknesses : Filling in for three players lost to graduation.

Central Valley Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Oregon Golf Association Course in Woodburn.

BEND LAVA BEARS

Coach: Candace Brink (fourth season).

2007 record: First place at Intermountain Conference Championships; third place at Class 5A state championship tournament.

Returning varsity players: Jennifer Hilts, Whitney Weber, Brittany Bruening and Ashley Evert.

Team strengths: Experience and camaraderie.

Team weakness : Motivation slumps.

Intermountain Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville.

MOUNTAIN VIEW COUGARS

Coach: Jim Coon (third season).

2007 record: Fifth place at Class 5A Intermountain Conference Championships.

Returning varsity players: Chelsey Lind, Mara McCleery, Mary Hietala, Ashley Moon.

Team strength: Returning experience.

Team weakness : Lack of practice in the offseason.

Intermountain Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville.

SUMMIT STORM

Coach: Jerry Hackenbruck (first season).

2007 record: First place at Intermountain Conference Championships; first place at Class 5A state championship tournament.

Returning varsity players: Kathleen Adame and Marlee Barton.

Team strengths: Cohesion and varsity experience.

Team weakness : Consistency.

Intermountain Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville.

CROOK COUNTY COWBOYS

Coach: Grant Patterson (10th season of second tenure).

2007 record: Third place at Class 5A Intermountain Conference Championships.

Returning varsity players: JoBeth Hamon, Sarah Crofcheck, Cami Williams and Rachel Kelso.

Team strengths: Returning players.

Team weakness : Low turnout in freshman class .

Intermountain Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville.

MADRAS WHITE BUFFALOES

Coach: Spud Miller (first season).

2007 record: Varsity did not compete.

Top players: Courtney Freshour, Moriah Pugh and Rachel Simmons.

Team strength: Motivation.

Team weakness : Inexperience.

League opener: Tuesday, April 8 at Eagle Crest.

Intermountain Conference district tournament: May 5-6 at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville.

SISTERS OUTLAWS

Coach: Mary Flande (12th season).

2007 record: First place at Class 4A-3A-2A-1A Special District 5 Championships; first place at Class 4A-3A-2A-1A state championship tournament.

Returning varsity players: Lindsay Reeve, Alexis Wainwright, Meghan Crowder, Claire Mutchler and Shelby Ross.

Team strength: Returning varsity team.

Team weakness : Short game.

Class 4A-3A-2A-1A Special District 5 district tournament: May 5-6 at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters.

LA PINE HAWKS

Coach: Daren vomSteeg (fourth season).

2007 record: Third place at Class 4A-3A-2A-1A Special District 5 Championships.

Returning varsity player: Megan Glenn.

Team strength: Quality coaching staff.

Team weaknesses : Home course (Quail Run) still unplayable because of snow and lack of experience.

Class 4A-3A-2A-1A Special District 5 district tournament: May 5-6 at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters.