A drive through to golf course, a walk along the course, and an attempt to score all the golf balls across the field into the holes. Golf continues the season and scurries along the road from district to Regionals.
Freshman Hudson Little, junior Laiken Carlson, senior Cade Nelson, senior Chandler Phillips, junior Brayden Thornburg, sophomore Haddie Owen and senior Zada Pjetrovic will head to Brenham on April 13 to play in the 3A Region 3 Tournament on the 14 and 15.
“Playing golf can be really relaxing and enjoyable,” Pjetrovic said. “It gives me a chance to be outdoors, focus on my game, and even spend time with my friends and my team. I’ve played for four years now and absolutely love the game. I always look forward to the season. I would love to continue playing for school, but also play in my free time.”
Regionals gives an opportunity for the golfers to show off their skills and have fun. Individually, the golfers would have to place in the top 5 in order to go to state.
“I choose to play golf because I enjoy playing with friends and I will be able to enjoy this skill for the rest of my life,” Nelson said. “I golf in my free time because I love nature and just the silence I get when I am on the course.”
The golfers will have a practice round of all 18 holes before the tournament.
“If our girls can bring their best game over the two day tournament, they have a chance,” coach Kelly Ridge said. “Our boys team has a really good chance of moving on to the state tournament, and even if they don’t advance as a team, a couple of our golfers have a great shot to advance as individual medalists.”
Coach Ridge had wonderful tips that can help anyone wanting to improve their golfing skills and even at the end of the day she takes her kids out for delicious ice cream.
“My advice to anyone wanting to improve in golf is to focus on your short game,” Ridge said. “Chipping and putting are the #1 areas to shave off strokes, but they are also the #1 area that people won’t practice. They just want to go play, and then get frustrated when they’re not improving. It’s easier to improve general swings than it is to improve putting.”
Each person has a different role to the team. Even if some members play better than others, they all practice and work hard to help the team succeed and help them go to the next level.
“I think we do have a chance to go to state,” Phillips said. “To me, our team is as connected as last year but I believe that we have a better team.”
Haddie has grown from the time of last year to this year. She has been practicing much more which has helped her improve and take over the spot of recent graduate Allie Hughes. Even without a team, she had managed to work hard to get herself to this level.
“You can find me at the golf course every day,” Owen said. “Ever since I was young, I have played golf with my grandpa and my mom. I love to play the game. Golf is much more than a passion; it is my life.”
These students will spend the day before the tournament traveling, relaxing, and having fun.
“My dad made me want to play golf, he played golf and I’ve been playing since I was born basically,” Little said. “It depends, it could be either the greatest feeling or worst feeling in the world. When I won district it was awesome but when I play bad rounds or hit bad shots it sucks.”
