Kyle Wambold's senior season with the Emmaus golf team couldn't have started much better.

The Hornets' top player needed just two holes to announce his presence as one of the odds-on favorites for the Lehigh Valley Conference and District 11 title. Wambold eagled the par-4 11th hole at Bethlehem Golf Club en route to a four-under par 67 to lead Emmaus to a season-opening win over Liberty and Nazareth on Monday.

"I hit a really good drive and then chipped in from about 10 yards off the front of the green," Wambold said. "That got me going a little."

Wambold, who missed states by one spot last year, added birdies on both par fives on the course's front nine - holes two and six - and the par-4 fifth.

Along with Northampton's Evan Notaro and Northwestern's Cole Miller, Wambold figures to be among the top players in the area this fall.

"As of right now I'm trying to get my stroke average as low as I can and in the 60s," Wambod said. "That's a big goal of mine. I also want to do as well in the big tournaments around here and win everything I can. I'd like to get to states and do as well as I can there."

The senior could have company at states this season as his teammate Grant Schumaker has also had a strong summer. Schumaker was in the top 10 at districts last season and began his junior season with a 77 to help the Hornets earn a win.

Mike Lessel, Emmaus' fourth player, matched Schumaker's 77 and Carlos Fullerton shot 79. Pat Bryan rounded out the top five with an 82.

Nazareth finished second in the tri-match as Bret Howey's 78 paced the Blue Eagles' 410. Kevin Zakesky shot 79 to lead Liberty, which posted a 424.

Perhaps Emmaus' biggest meet of the season comes this Thursday when the Hornets' take on Northampton at Southmoore.

"They're probably the league favorite, at least in my opinion," head coach Mike Mihalik said. "That's going to be a tough match. They're really deep."

The K-Kids will have to play without their top player, Notaro, who is competing in an AJGA event that day. The Hornets will still need production from their entire lineup to down Northampton.

Emmaus will also compete with perennial rival Parkland for the LVC crown. The two teams square off at Iron Lakes next Tuesday.

Emmaus 382, Nazareth 410, Liberty 424

EMMAUS

Kyle Wambold 67, Grant Schumaker 77, Mike Lessel 77, Carlos Fullerton 79, Pat Bryan 82

NAZARETH

Bret Howey 78, Sam Diacont 81, Cole Young 82, Tanner Buss 82, Dominic Condomitti 87

LIBERTY

Kevin Zakesky 79, Mitch Racosky 80, Jessy Lengyell 85, Ryan McDonald 88, Parker Henning 92

Played at Bethlehem Golf Club, par 71