Todd Keating likes his chances. 

The Charleston High School girl’s golf coach won’t name a favorite to win the Apollo Conference championship, but he believes the Trojans are in a position to make a run at repeating as champions. 

The Apollo Conference Championships will take place at Meadowview Golf Course in Mattoon with a tee time of 8:30 a.m.

“Based on our current year’s scores and those of our opponents, I believe we are in a position to potentially win the Apollo again this year,” said Keating. “Our team’s average score has improved from last season by a few strokes. However, we haven’t seen all the Apollo teams this year, so I’m remaining cautiously optimistic.”

Despite not playing against either Effingham or Charleston, Taylorville head coach Jeff Hill believes that both the Hearts and Trojans are the favorites to win the title. 

“As a team, we can probably compete in the middle of the pack,” said Hill. “We have only played against 3 Apollo teams this season, losing to Mattoon by 11 strokes, but defeated Mt. Zion and Lincoln.”

Hill believes that junior Sophia Robinson should contend for the individual title. Robinson finished ninth in the tournament as a sophomore and has appeared to start peaking at the right time. 

“We are a very young squad, only one senior,” said Hill. “We are led by junior Sophia Robinson, who I believe can contend for the individual title. She is coming off her best nine-hole round of the season at Oak Terrace in Pana where she shot a 39. She averages a little over 43 for nine holes.”

Charleston has three golfers that could also contend with Boehm as both Taryn Pearson and Stacey Zerbst return as All-Apollo golfers, while Keating gave Delaney Meister a chance as well. 

Berit Haldorsen figures to be a top contender for All-Apollo after finishing 14th last year, while Mattoon could contend for a top-3 finish after finishing fourth last year. Mount Zion features a young squad that returns many of their players from last year’s seventh-place finish in the Apollo. 

Mount Zion is led by juniors Emma Espinoza and Kennedy Highley, and sophomores Peyton Graves and Gabby Daniels. Lincoln finished last in the conference but brought back All-Apollo senior Allison Woolard. 

“We have seen some impressive rounds from several girls on the other conference teams, but I can’t think of an individual that stands out above the rest,” said Keating.