The Oak Harbor High School girls golf team is set to defend its Western Conference championship this spring.

The Wildcats graduated only two players from last year’s title team, but the pair were the team’s best, Joanna Leete and Bree Roderos.

Some talent does return, however. Junior Resego Mooki earned first-team, all-Wesco honors last spring, and senior Hailey Beecher made the honorable mention list in her first year of golf.

The duo tied for eighth in the Wesco tournament. Mooki just missed qualifying for state when a putt lipped out at the district tournament in a playoff for the final berth.

Two other letter winners return: senior Marisa Sligh, last year’s Most Improved Player, and junior Tarra Baird.

The key newcomer, according to coach Andy Wesley, is freshman Grace Korsmo.

The strength of the team, Wesley said, is its leadership.

“We have three strong leaders on the team that can show all of the new golfers what it takes to be a successful member of the team.”

The team’s goal, he said, is to defend its league title and send several girls to state.

“The girls we have out there this year are positive and extremely excited about playing golf,” Wesley said. “I am looking forward to seeing how the year turns out and where their hard work will take them.”

The Wildcats will play in a jamboree at the Snohomish Golf Course at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 17. The first match is 3 p.m. Thursday, March 19, at Stanwood.

Oak Harbor hosts the 13-team Whidbey Shootout at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 24.