Red Demons golf team plays back-to-back matches ahead of Regionals
For the only time this season, the Red Demons girls golf team competed on back-to-back days, playing in Wichita, Kansas on Wednesday, and in Hutchinson on Thursday.
It’s become something head coach Jim Mapel said the team does every season.
“It’s kind of a long two days because we play 18 holes each day,” Mapel said. “I think it’s a good idea for the girls to play back-to-back and get that experience.”
Mapel said he also likes doing it that way because at Regionals, which are scheduled for Oct. 9, the same thing usually happens. Teams get to play a practice round, then the next day play the actual tournament. While the first day is optional for teams, Mapel said he always opts to have the team play it, allowing them to get extra practice on the course.
That extra practice can make a key-difference for players and teams because it’s at that tournament that State-qualifiers are determined.
Overall, the top three teams from each region qualify as teams. Outside of that, the next five lowest-scoring players not on already qualified teams make it into the state tournament as individuals, Mapel said.
The Red Demons stand a good chance of making it as a team Mapel said.
In the meantime, the Red Demons get one more chance to move up in the Western Athletic Conference standings when they play on Tuesday in Great Bend, Kansas. Mapel said the team is tied for fourth with Liberal in the WAC. He hopes the team will play well enough to hopefully move themselves into sole-possession of fourth in the league.
On Wednesday, the Red Demons competed at the Sim Park Golf Course. Senior Chesney Moore continued her strong play this season, medaling again with an 18th place finish after shooting a 96. Junior Olivia Gregg shot a 108 and senior Taylor Starnes shot a 109. Other scores from the invitational included:
– senior Nicole Hall, who shot a 111
– sophomore Ella Friess, who shot a 116
– senior Madelyn Wright, who shot a 116
– and junior Breanna Galindo, who shot a 121.
Overall, the team finished with a score of 429 and finished ninth in the tournament.
The next day, the Red Demons played at the Carey Park Golf Course in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Moore again shot the best score on the team, hitting a 98. Starnes finished second on the team with a 101, while Gregg shot a 106. Other scores from the event included:
– Ella Friess, who shot a 114
– Nicole Hall, who shot a 116
– Breanna Galindo, who shot a 117
– and Madelyn Wright, who also shot a 117.
The team as a whole finished shooting a 419 and in 13th place.
Tuesday’s tournament is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Great Bend Stone Ridge Country Club.
