( – By J.C. Carnahan for WFTV.com – )

There will be a few new faces on the links in 2010 for the Lake Mary boys golf team as the 2009 FHSAA Class 2A champs look to defend their title.

Lake Mary 2009 State Champs

Last season the Rams won the program’s third state championship since 2004 by an eight-stroke advantage over Martin County at Silver Spring Shores Golf Club. This time around though, Lake Mary fields a senior-laden group as they attempt to turn that success into back-to-back bragging rights by season’s end.

“They know how difficult it’s going to be,” said Lake Mary Coach Doug Peters of his returnees.

Two weeks ago practices began for Lake Mary without individual champion Han Kim (9-under par) and Hojin Kang (3-under), who both began collegiate careers at UCF this month. That means the pressure falls on the clubs of Tyler Calderone (6-over), Nick Spencer (9-over) and Calvin Rosser (13-over) to lead the way.

Peters said they’ve spent the summer staying active on the golf course, eyeing the chance to not only continue their dominance in the Seminole Athletic Conference but to return to the very place they left off in 2009.

“There’s just something special about having a group of seniors with a lot of tournament experience heading into the season,” said Peters. “We’ve just been really fortunate to have had some great talent come through here over the years.”

New to the fold are three transfers, all of which are seniors whom Peters says has fit right in with the team since their arrival.

William Herring moved in from North Carolina and is already committed to NC State, while Sebastian Ostos spent last year in Alabama and Mike Yamin transfers in from Orlando University High School.

Now that the new cast is in place, the Rams get a chance to see how they stack up with season-opening matches at The Golf Club at Cypress Head against Spruce Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 1 then at Twin Rivers Golf Club against Oviedo on Sept. 2.

– (Contact Orlando Sports Central at JC@OrlandoSportsCentral.com) –