Talawanda’s varsity golf team has found a lot of success in recent years and their start this year indicates that may continue.

Playing as a young team in a new league with some new opponents, however, raises some question marks for coach Alan Sepsi.

As of Wednesday the Braves were 4-2 overall and 1-1 in Southwest Ohio Conference play with their toughest SWOC tests in front of them.

Their first six matches saw a loss to Badin the middle with two wins over Middletown Christian and one over Hamilton in the non-league schedule. The Braves’ opening match against SWOC competition was against Mount Healthy, an easy 159-222 win. The Braves lost to SWOC foe Harrison 163-174 on Tuesday.

“Mount Healthy had only three players. You need four players to qualify and one was not able to pay his pay-to-play fee,” Sepsi said. “We would not have anyone sit out for that reason.”

Sophomore Curran Persinger is the team’s leading golfer so far this season, followed by, in order, seniors Brandon Tafelski, Matt Derickson, Derek Whalen and Josh Ubbes.

Junior Tommy Dyer was the team’s sixth golfer until he dislocated a kneecap in gym class, missing the second match against Middletown Christian and then Mount Healthy. Taking his place has been sophomore Conner Yzerski.

“All of them have been with me a long time on JV, but not so much on varsity,” the coach said. “These guys are contributing but not very consistent. I believe they are good players. They think they are good players. The numbers have not shown it.”

Sepsi lamented the demise of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference and noted Winton Woods is no longer on the Talawanda golf schedule but has been replaced, at least temporarily, by Wilmington.

“Wilmington has already said they were going to be (in the SWOC) for two years and they are leaving,” he said. “It’s a long drive there. Luckily for us, they come here this year. They were a good team when they were in the FAVC when it was in three divisions. They always won their group.”

Sepsi said his 2012 team has been showing improvement and he expects that to continue.

“There is hope. I see light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “I kept 17 (players) this year. Three are on a practice team and I have eight players on the JV competing for six places. Everybody gets to practice with us.”

“Wilmington will be at home (Sept. 18),” Sepsi said. “That’s the way I’d like to do it. Ross (Sept. 20) is usually a contender, so two out of three main contenders are at home. So far, the kids have a scoring average a little higher than I expected, but when we get to play at home more we will do better. I look for a home course advantage.”

The SWOC tournament will be held Sept. 25 at Weatherwax Golf Course.