After a solid 2013     season, the Missouri Southern golf team looks to reemerge as a winning program in the upcoming 2014 season.

The Lions look to build upon nine top-10 finishes last season, including two top-five finishes.

Led by seniors Ryan Buerk, Skylar Arbuckle and Brandon Weller, leadership is a strength of this team.

The Lions return four players, three seniors and one junior, and welcome nine fresh faces to the golf squad.

Grant Seifried, freshman golfer, comes to Southern as a four-year starter for the Houn’ Dawgs at Aurora High School in Aurora, Mo.

Seifried looks to contribute immediately and help re-establish wining golf here at Southern.

“It’s exciting to be a part of the MSSU golf team,” said Seifried. “I can’t wait to compete. We have a lot of good players on the team so every week should be a new, exciting group of guys.”

One of the highlights for the Lions last season was senior Ryan Buerk, who finished the season with a 75.7 average in 26 rounds of play. As Buerk strives to improve, he’s excited about the upcoming season.

“We have a new team this year with new teammates, and I expect us to be more competitive than we have been in recent years,” he said.

Returning junior Ethan Hutchenson played in all 11 events for the Lions last season and shot an average 78.7 in 29 rounds of play.

To Hutchenson, a conference title is the expectation.

“We have nine new kids on the team, and we are expecting to compete for the conference championship,” he said.

The season kicks off Sept. 2 at the Missouri Intercollegiate at The Club at Porto Cima in Lake Ozark, Mo.