In golf, the Ballard Beaver girls lost their first match of the season to Roosevelt by just one point 291-292. Despite the loss, the team showed great improvement over the 14-point loss to the Roughriders last year and that is a sign of progress.

"We had fun, it was a nice day. We could not quite catch them," said Head Coach Stan Geddes.

Since Geddes took over the program last season, the Beavers are making steady progress and expect to top their four-win season from a year ago. The wins over Garfield, Franklin, Lake Washington and Juanita were a giant step in the right direction for Ballard. The year before they did not win any team matches.

For Geddes, coaching the Ballard girls has a family connection. His daughter Kim Geddes is the Beavers best player.

Kim Geddes, a senior, was second in the individual scores against Roosevelt with a 53. Sophomore Emily Sheils, the number two player was tied for fifth with a 60 score.

Both Kim Geddes and Shiels have benefited from summer and winter golfing sessions to prepare for the 2006 season.

Sophomores Ellie Shane and Kristen Yeasting round out the top four Beavers who are expected to make an impact.

The top eleven girls from KingCo advance to state. Shiels was four strokes off the cut at the KingCo District Medalist Tourney last year. Kim Geddes was 24th.

The Beavers have finally developed some veteran depth. They have eight returning girls. Kim Geddes is the only player who will graduate in June.

"We're quite different this year. We'll find out if we have improved from last year," said Geddes.

Schools from the eastside provide an especially tough challenge. Many girls have parents who belong to golf clubs.

Geddes offers the Redmond Mustangs as an example. The team has six girls whose parents are members of the Bear Creek Country Club and play on golf course year round.

Geddes uses an analogy by former Seattle Seahawks coach Chuck Knox, who liked to say he was "playing the hand he is dealt."

"Our girls don't come from country clubs," said Geddes. Being on the Ballard team is a learning experience for the players.

This year Geddes is coaching four "rookies" who are adding to the mix of veterans.

Sophomore Jamie Jessup is one of the new players who is trying her hand at the game.

"It's a hard game. I'm starting to get it," said Jessup, who joined the team to receive a credit in physical education.

Last week on the putting green at the Interbay Golf Course, Shiels was giving pointers to some of the new players as Geddes coaching others.

By working together, Ballard is slowly closing the gap on some of the mid-level teams. Last season the Beavers lost to Inglemoor by 24 points. The year before Inglemoor won by 60 points.

Geddes says the KingCo league is good in all sports and from top to bottom and the golf programs are no exception.

"There are not too many patsy games," said Geddes.

Kim Geddes says Ballard is better than in the past. "Everyone has improved a lot. The scores are lower in the practice rounds. We are ready to do well. A lot of first timers from last year have improved so much," she said.

Ballard's next match is on March 30 against Garfield at West Seattle Golf Course. Start time is 3:45 p.m.