Hughes takes over experienced Lowell girls golf program

Lowell’s girls golf starts at Katke. Photos courtesy of Coach Hughes.

Lowell bags lined up before the opening tournament at Katke.

Justin Scott - Info@redarrowpreps.com

8/23/2026

First-year head coach Bobby Hughes is still getting to know the Lowell girls golf team, but his early impression is that the Red Arrows have the depth to create plenty of competition throughout the season.

“I am really enjoying getting to know our golfers,” Hughes said. “Each brings something different to the team, and I think as the season goes along, there will be a lot of competition for who will be in the lineup.”

The Red Arrows have packed five early events into the schedule including the Kent County Classic and a preview of the regional course Eldorado.

Lowell enters the season with eight golfers on the varsity roster and another eight at the junior varsity level. Kaila Richards, Hannah Ake, Saylee Eickhoff, Ruby Cunningham, Ariana Millhisler, Ana Plantz, Ashtyn Slanger and Olivia Lothian make up the varsity group.

Haddy Farnham, Emy Foster, Lucille Foster, Khloe Blough, Parker Banks, Grace Zahm, Harper Mervau and Julianna Donahue comprise the JV roster. Paula Skeel will coach the junior varsity team alongside Hughes this season.

Richards will serve as Lowell’s captain and is expected to be one of the Red Arrows’ leading golfers. Hughes has already been impressed by both her leadership and the work she put into improving her game before the season began.

“Kaila Richards is our captain and leader of the team,” Hughes said. “She has a great head on her shoulders, and she has spent countless hours working on her game over the summer to get ready for the season.”

While Richards gives Lowell an established golfer at the top of the lineup, Hughes does not believe the team’s success will depend on one player. He sees a roster capable of receiving meaningful contributions from several different golfers as the season progresses.

That’s something Lowell will need after all, it takes four good scores to make a run at another RCA title, to compete at regionals, and hopefully earn their way back to the state tournament as a team. The Red Arrows have churned out college golfers the last few years including Elle Sluss (Kalamazoo College), Elyse Veldman (Grace), and Leah Krieger (Hope).

“The great thing with this team is that each of our players is capable of putting a great number up every time they tee it up,” Hughes said. “I believe each week we’ll have some new names on the leaderboard helping us out.”

Lowell began its season at Katke Golf Course, home of Ferris State University and the home course of Big Rapids. It’s a challenging opening assignment for a team beginning a new year under a new head coach. Richards helped lead the way, and Hughes came away encouraged by how the Red Arrows handled the course.

“Katke is a tough course to start the season, and with how we scored, I couldn’t be happier,” Hughes said.

The Red Arrows faced a busy opening portion of the schedule, with four additional 18-hole events following their season opener. Hughes changed the lineup during that stretch, giving more golfers an opportunity to gain varsity experience before the school year and conference season began.

Those early tournaments also gave Hughes a better understanding of his roster while allowing the golfers to compete for positions in the regular lineup. Lowell finished 4th in three of those tournaments and 5th in two of those tournaments.

Hughes’ primary emphasis has been on helping the Red Arrows approach each shot with a clear plan, particularly when they get closer to the green. Although he had limited time with the team during the summer, the start of official practices has allowed him to begin establishing that approach.

“My main focus is for the players to be purposeful and intentional with their shots, especially on and around the greens,” Hughes concluded.