With the loss of last year’s only state participant, Lauren Acton, Oak Harbor girls golf coach Andy Wesley needed someone to step in and fill the hole.

He may have received his answer Wednesday afternoon.

OHHS freshman Brittany Loveng shot a team-high 20 Stableford points and helped the Wildcats to a second place finish in WesCo North Division A match at Whidbey Golf and Country Club.

“I was very pleased with Brittany’s results,” Wesley said. “She is going to contribute considerably to our team this year and hopefully in the years to come.”

The Wildcats finished in second place with 69 points in front of Stanwood (65) and Mount Vernon (56). Arlington won the meet with 96, helped by medalist Kalan Smith, who had 28 points.

Other scorers for OHHS included: Chelsea Gronboch (16), Krystal Cooley with (14), Katie Riley (11) and Christina Carter (8).

Despite doubters around the league, Wesley is very pleased with the direction his team is headed.

“I feel our team is right on track to have another great season,” he said.  “The other schools don’t expect us to do good, so it’s nice to show up at the end of the year and surprise them.”

He is most pleased with the sense of camaraderie that has developed — in particular over the three-week period without a varsity match.

“The girls didn’t take any time off,” Wesley said. “They got together on their own and practiced.”

Oak Harbor competes next at the Burlington Invitational at noon, Friday, April 18 at Skagit Golf and Country Club.