BELLVILLE — The Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference has hosted two girls golf championship tournaments in its six-year existence.
The Centerburg Trojans have won both.
The girls in red and white went back-to-back on Saturday, claiming their second KMAC title in as many years at Little Apple Golf Course in Bellville. The team’s top four golfers combined to fire a 308 – 42 strokes ahead of second-place Northmor and 49 strokes ahead of third-place Highland.
Sophomore Avery Glenn, last year’s medalist, took home first place individually once again, firing a tournament-low 70.
“We were just super thrilled,” Centerburg head coach Kathy Compton said afterwards. “The girls were so excited to go play again because they were so excited last year, that they were finally going to have a conference tournament, and that they could win a conference title in girls golf.
“And then to win it, and to have Avery be the medalist last year, they had it on their minds and hearts (this year) to repeat. They were so pumped, they (were) so excited, and then when we placed first, they were just thrilled.”
- Avery Glenn, Centerburg (33-37–70)
- Katelyn Miley, Northmor (35-37–72)
- Somi Bright, Centerburg (40-34–74)
- Ceci Grassbaugh, Highland (37-37–74)
- Olivia Griffith, Centerburg (37-39–76)
- Braelyn Ingles, Northmor (39-45–84)
- Mallory Jones, Highland (43-42–85)
- Ava Parker-Cuervo, Fredericktown (43-44–87)
- Evie Stowe, Centerburg (45-43–88)
- Guinevere Jackson, Highland (48-45–93)
- Maddy Hursey, Mount Gilead (49-47–96)
- Katie Dean, Northmor (47-49–96)
- Brooklyn Kissling, Northmor (52-46–98)
- Ava Pernia, Northmor (45-53–98)
- Darienne Hammond, Fredericktown (51-47–98)
- Saje Miley, Northmor (55-45–100)
- Melanie McLaughlin, Centerburg (49-51–100)
- Bailey Alexander, Highland (54-51–105)
- Stevie Asher, Highland (56-50–106)
- Kayla Larimore, Centerburg (55-59–114)
- Maddie Tack, Northmor (57-62–119)
Three of Centerburg’s golfers placed in the top five overall Saturday. Senior Somi Bright finished third at 74 strokes, while sophomore Olivia Griffith placed fifth at 76 strokes. The Trojans’ fourth golfer, freshman Evie Stowe, finished ninth at 88 strokes.
This depth allowed the Trojans to pull ahead of Northmor and Highland. The Golden Knights’ top four golfers placed second, sixth, 12th and 13th overall; while the Fighting Scots’ top four golfers finished fifth, eighth, 10th and 18th (two golfers from Fredericktown and one from Mount Gilead competed Saturday as well, but four were needed to register a team score).
“We’ve had a great season with the depth of Avery, Somi and Olivia (at the top),” Compton said. “Somi and Olivia have really kicked it up and are playing great golf. They’re confident in their game. And we have Evie Stowe, who joined us this year. She’s never played golf – except for with her dad – and she’s kicking it around pretty solid.”
Senior Melanie McLaughlin and sophomore Kayla Larimore rounded out the order for Centerburg on Saturday. McLaughlin placed 17th overall at 100 strokes, while Larimore finished 20th at 114 strokes.
RELOAD AND REPEAT: Centerburg graduated four seniors from last year’s KMAC title team – including Amaiah Gammell, who was named KMAC Golfer of the Year for her efforts during the regular season.
But three of the Trojans’ top four golfers returned this fall. And when five golfers total turned out for the team initially, Compton said the girls took it upon themselves to recruit more members.
“We only started this season with five girls, and by the second week of practice, we had four join through the girls talking with their friends. They were like, ‘Come on, why don’t you join? It’s so much fun,'” Compton recalled with a laugh.
“We had four freshman girls who had never – with the exception of Evie, who’d played with her dad – they had never swung a club before their first day of practice. I’m like, ‘Avery started here, and so did Somi and Olivia. Everybody starts somewhere, so let’s go kick it around and see what we can do.’
“The returning girls are fabulous with helping the beginners because they want to get the program going as well, and we want to make a name for ourselves.”
Compton credited this extra effort and leadership from her returners for Centerburg’s ability to repeat as conference champions Saturday. Those returners also put in work individually over the summer, Compton added, which led to their low scores.
“I praise the girls tremendously (for) the hard work and dedication they put in (outside of school-sponsored practices and tournaments),” Compton said.
“Because as you know, golf is kind of an on-your-own sport, per se. We’re not able to do a lot in the summer, it’s kind of done on their own time. And the dedication they put forward, that shows in the other girls who are up-and-coming in the program.”
STAR IN THE MAKING: Glenn is one of those returners.
She served as Centerburg’s lone district qualifier last season, finishing seventh at sectionals after winning the KMAC title. But she wasn’t satisfied. Compton said Glenn stepped up her training this offseason, working hard to strengthen her game heading into her sophomore year.
“She’s worked hard all summer. She’s been really consistent, working hard all summer long – practicing her short game, her long game, and taking lessons,” Compton said. “She’s really dedicated to improving herself and fine-turning those skills that she wanted to work on.”
That work has paid off so far this season. Compton said the sophomore appears not only more skilled, but also more confident – a clear improvement from the fall prior.
“She’s more confident with her short game. She might miss a chip, but she gathers herself, maintains her composure, steps right up and makes those putts. She doesn’t get frustrated with herself as much. She holds herself, takes a breath and knows what she can do and what she’s capable of doing. …” Compton said.
“I’m always trying to tell her, ‘Always go for bogey golf. And if you get a par or birdie, it’s like a bonus.’ I’m trying to build her confidence, and that really speaks volumes for her, that if she has a flub shot, she’s like, ‘I got this. That hole’s not following me.’ She’s much more confident with her game this year.”
This confidence was on full display Saturday. Glenn fired a 33 on the front nine, then a 37 on the back nine, finishing two strokes ahead of Northmor’s Katelyn Miley for the individual title.
“She drove the ball wonderfully. She had some great putts, some great chips, and her short game has just come along so well this season,” Compton said of Glenn. “But she just had great control of the ball and placed it where she wanted it.”
WHAT’S NEXT: The Trojans – and the rest of the KMAC’s golfers – will have three weeks to prepare before sectionals.
Compton said Centerburg’s goal this year will be to qualify for districts as a team. That will take strong performances all-around – particularly from the team’s fourth and fifth golfers, Stowe and McLaughlin.
“(Evie) and Melanie go back and forth. But Melanie and Evie, those are our scorers that we’re really looking to hopefully pull us further in sectionals and to place well, and hopefully move us on to districts,” said Compton, in her sixth year as Centerburg’s head girls golf coach.
“We’d love that. And they can do it, they’re very capable of it.”
The KMAC’s girls golfers will compete in Division II sectional tournaments Sept. 26-Oct. 1.
