Charlie Mitchell surveyed the scene, and came to a succinct conclusion.

“Sure is different without Sean (McMullen) and Lauren (Sewell),” the Kentridge golf coach said.

McMullen and Sewell, who had been the rocks of a strong Kentridge program the last four years, both graduated last spring. A few miles down the road from Mitchell, Kentwood boys coach Kevin Hagen is feeling much the same. The Conquerors graduated top golfers Kent Hagen, Tom Zavada, and Riley Kuranishi.

“A wave (of top players) came through,” said Hagen, whose team lost plenty to graduation, but returns junior DJ Vallala and brings in big-hitting freshman Connor Simms. “It was a big graduation year.”

That wave of talent that graduated last spring included top 10 state placers Rui Li of Kentwood (second), McMullen (second), Sewell (fourth), Zavada (fifth), and Hagen (eighth). Meanwhile, Kentlake’s Lindsey Douglas, who took 34th at state, also graduated.

So who’s next?

Rest assured, while the cupboard isn’t quite as stocked as it was a year ago, there are several new faces ready to ascend. At Kentridge, sophomore Ahren Young already made inroads last fall and spring in becoming one of the South Puget Sound League North Division’s top returners.

A state qualifier who missed the Day 2 cut, Young showed flashes of dominance for the Chargers, even knocking off teammate McMullen a few times during match play.

“You look around the league, and he’s going to be seeded up there,” Mitchell said of Young. “The great thing is, Ahren learned from Sean. He’s showing guys around at practice and already is a leader as a sophomore.”

Young, however, isn’t the lone Charger sophomore golfer making noise. Look out for Hannah Kim, who also advanced to state last season.

“I see her going to state all four years,” Mitchell conceded.

Joining Kim and Young among the elite sophomores will be Kentlake’s Alyssa Scott, who also advanced to state in the spring.

Meanwhile, as much as things have changed for Hagen at Kentwood, a lot has remained the same — at least for the girls.

In fact, the Kentwood girls, which have won each of the last two SPSL North crowns, appear on the brink of making it three straight. And that’s despite losing standout Li to graduation.

“But we got her sister (Catherina Li),” said Kentwood coach Cheryl Havener of the well-known freshman ready to make waves on the pre circuit. “She will challenge for the No. 1 spot right away.”

The key to the Conquerors, however, will be their depth. Though Rui Li graduated, the Conquerors return Erika Vossbeck, Chelsea Brossard and Jenna Clavin, all of who qualified for state last year. Throw in sophomores Ravae Canas and Jamie Huo, both of whom have taken significant steps up this fall, and the sky is the limit for this bunch.

“Nobody has the depth of going six-deep like this team,” Havener said.

Kentwood enters the season having delivered two consecutive perfect seasons in SPSL North competition (8-0 last year and 10-0 in 2008). A third crown appears imminent. However, state hardware could be on the horizon, too.

“I thought last year we were going to do it,” Havener said. “We had four girls going, but only one advanced (past the cut). I am hoping very much this year we can do it. But you never know.”

GOLFERS TO WATCH

Ahren Young, Kentridge; Connor Simms, Kentwood; DJ Vallala, Kentwood; Alex Carroll, Kentlake; Ryan Walsh, Kentlake; Alyssa Scott, Kentlake; Erika Vossbeck, Kentwood; Hannah Kim, Kentridge; Chelsea Brossard, Kentwood; Jenna Clavin, Kentwood; Amanda Fairweather, Tahoma; Catherina Li, Kentwood.