The men’s and women’s golf teams at Sacramento State will begin their seasons Sept. 12 and both teams will try to build on their strong finishes from the spring.

The men finished in second place at the America Sky Championship and the women finished in fifth place in the Big Sky Conference Championship.

Even with a one-shot lead heading into the final day of play, the team couldn’t hold off Weber State University, which finished with a score of 287 to take the conference title.

Seniors Jake Johnson, Cameron and Grant Rappleye, and sophomores Jordan Weir and Ryan Williams all finished in the top 10 of last season’s championship and will return for the team in 2011.

With the addition of junior Jordan Swanson, who redshirted last season, and the two freshmen brothers Eric and Owen Taylor, the men’s team is in position to improve on last season’s mark.

The women may have lost Samantha Saffold, who finished tied for ninth place in the Big Sky Championships, but the team returns with sophomore Kercia Brakel and juniors Justine Chen, Julie Shutler and Kristen Watson. The team also added freshman Ellese Dias to the roster.

After last season’s fifth-place finish at the Big Sky Championship, the women will get a chance to show what they can do.

AJ Taylor can be reached at [email protected].