Members of the Bengals Girls Golf team won the first state championship since 1999 by 48 strokes despite the rain, Tuesday, May 18, at the Avondale Golf Course in Hayden, Idaho.

“We’ve been playing in the rain all year,” said Sarah Sanders, junior. Danny Jagelski, junior agreed that they played all their matches, except for two, in the rain. “It seemed appropriate that it would rain at state,” she said.

All players agreed that playing in rain helped them on the second day, because other teams failed to be as comfortable in the rain. “We saw that it was raining, and we were happy,” said Amy Hasenoehrl, freshman.

Sanders stated that other teams lost strokes due to the rain. Kelsey Brockman, junior said, “The second day the rain didn’t get to us like it did to a lot of other teams.”

However, other factors contributed to the girls’ win. Jagelski said, “We had longer practices this year, and we visited the course five times before state.” She stated that practices started at the end of February and continued until the state game. Brockman stated that practices lasted three to four hours everyday. Coach Gregg MacMillian stated that playing in all the tournaments, despite the weather, also benefited the team.

Kayla Kirk, sophomore, stated that the team prayers before games, along with team support, helped to contribute to the state win. “We would ask how [teammates were doing] when we saw [them] along the course,” she said.

After the first day, the Bengals only led by three strokes. However, by the end of the second day they turned that lead into a 48-stroke victory. “We were a little cocky going in,” said Jagelski. However, she stated that the close lead proved to be a sign for the team to play its best.

The team hoped that the state championship boosts public recognition. Brockman feels baseball receives more acknowledgement than golf. MacMillian, however, disgrees with Brockman, and he thinks the girls continue to earn an acceptable following.

For next year’s golf, Sanders stated that she hoped to play better, and that the team members hoped to go to state again. “I feel that we can do it again next year,” said Kirk.

Hasenoehrl agrees since the team returns all their golfers. She adds that the team members need to put forth the time and effort to make themselves better for next year. “[The team] is playing together this summer.”

MacMillian encouraged his players to play in summer tournaments. “The more you [practice] the more you can perform when you get there.” He stated that next year his players needed to work on pressure situations.

“I do believe success breeds success,” MacMillian said. “I hope [the state win] brings more kids into the program in future years.”

Kaylee Brewster
-Editor-in-chief