For the past two years, the Archbishop McCarthy girls' golf team has had fun at Disney World in late October.

Sure, the theme park could be fun any time of the year, but the Mavericks have the best time around Halloween.

''We always go to Disney World before the state tournament,'' said McCarthy golfer Jaime Ritter, last year's district champion. ``It's been like the cherry on top of the ice cream when we make it to states.''

Since making the FHSAA golf state tournament for the first time in 2006, the Mavericks relax before their first round by visiting Disney.

HIGH HOPES

Buoyed by probably their strongest team ever this fall, a trip to Orlando before heading to Lakeland for the state golf tournament should be on the itinerary again.

McCarthy has Ritter and Diana Davis back this season. Both girls are two-time All-Broward standouts who have helped their team improve its state finish each of the past two seasons.

The Mavericks finished fifth in their first state tournament in 2006 and fourth last year.

Along with seniors Ritter and Davis, senior Sarah Rountree and junior Kristen Sammarco return, as well.

''The four girls on the team have been together for the last three years,'' McCarthy coach Carl Phillips said. ``Everything is coming together, and we are real excited for this season. If we can average all four girls shooting in low to mid-70s we should have a real good chance at the state title.''

BIG ADDITION

The Mavericks also get a boost by the transfer of Kaylin Yost from defending Class 1A state champion American Heritage.

Yost, a junior, played for arguably Broward's top girls' high school golf program the last two years and brings plenty of postseason experience.

''We're pretty much all seniors now,'' said Davis, who tied for 11th individually at the state tournament last year. ``We're really excited about Kaylin Yost coming in. What makes our team special is we all bring different aspects of our game to the team and Kaylin fits right into that. We could pull out some good decent scores.''

Phillips knew he already had four solid golfers before Yost arrived at McCarthy.

''With the addition of Yost I'm real excited about that,'' said Phillips, entering his sixth season as coach. ``She might be the last piece of the puzzle.''

ANOTHER CHAMPION

If the Mavericks are going to take the Class 1A state crown this season, they will have to go through a loaded American Heritage girls' team.

The Patriots are the defending champs and have won two of the past four state titles.

Not only does Heritage return top players such as Kyle Roig, Shelby Coyle and Paulina Mustafa, but former Miami Herald Broward Golfer of the Year Lindy Duncan is back for the Patriots.

With two of Broward's best girls golfers, St. Thomas Aquinas should be the county's best chance in Class 2A. Victoria Trapani and Kayla Williams lead the Raiders.

• Cypress Bay, Cardinal Gibbons and St. Thomas Aquinas should be the class of Broward's boys teams.

Brandon Park leads the Lightning. Ryan Rogerson and Shawn Kinney spark the Chiefs. Nick Manos and Ryan Moxey fuel the Raiders.

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