The 2023 High School girls’ golf season is underway, and many local teams and individuals have already posted some top results. Here’s what local coaches said to expect from their teams this year.
What are some expectations you have for the season?
Apollo head coach David Lyons: I look for my players to show some major improvements this season, all while juggling upper-level and college classes. I want the girls to improve daily through practice, matches, and tournaments and peak at the regional golf tournament.
Daviess County co-head coaches Brandon Reynolds and Jonas Billingsley: We’re returning all four scorers, and we want to repeat at region and make a deep post-season run. We want to repeat as Second Region champs and for our entire team to qualify for state. We also want to place in the top three as a team at the state tournament.
Owensboro head coach Kip Walter: This team is inexperienced but full of potential. We want to improve around the greens, work on the integral parts of the came, and record higher finishes. I expect that we will be able to work on the little parts of our game so that we can see improvements in our scores that allow us to compete with others in our area.
Owensboro Catholic head coach Jenny Burns: I’m returning to this position after a 6-year break. I know this team is poised to make a deep post-season run. Our goal is always to win regionals and make it to state. The expectations I have for the team are to continue to work hard and improve with every practice and every match.
What will be some challenges?
Apollo: There is a lot of potential for outside distractions like senior events and college class expectations. That is to be expected, and we always work around any potential distractions.
Daviess County: We need to play to our potential on a consistent basis.
Owensboro: Inexperience. We need more competitions so that we are used to playing against other teams. We are a young team, and so it is going to take time to get them used to playing at a higher level.
Who are some of your top returners?
Apollo: Mary Ann Lyons is our top returner. She has the most experience on the team and is looking to return to the state tournament. Tori Wiggins also returns as a senior. She was new to the sport late last season and continues to improve.
Daviess County: We are returning all four players from our 2nd regional championship team, led by our lone senior, Annaliegh Yager. Alexa Salamah is also a key part of our team and has been to the state tournament for the past three years. Claire Reynolds placed second in the 2nd region tournament and had a top-25 finish in the state tournament. Baylie Billingsley has worked hard on her game this summer and is improving her scores. Claire, Alexa, and Baylie all finished in the top 10 in last year’s regional tournament. Up-and-comer Briley Billingsley has also been a pleasant surprise this season, playing some solid golf in her first two tournaments.
Owensboro: Ellie Watson is a senior and in her fifth season with the team. She is our leader. Ellie has the experience and understands what it is going to take to be good. She has a good work ethic and is setting a much-needed example for others on the team. Ryann Kasey is an eighth grader and gained some experience last year playing in some tournaments. She has a natural swing and is a hard worker. I expect her to continue to get better and become one of the top golfers in the area in the years to come. Ansley Rose and Kinsley Hayden are in their second seasons. Hampton Gaddid and Olive Harrison are in their first seasons.
Owensboro Catholic: I am excited to see how our two seniors, Conleigh Osborne, and Olivia McPherson, finish out their last year. They are phenomenal leaders for not only our team but everyone in our region. We have several returning that have been working hard to improve over the summer that I think will have a great season. We have juniors Marley Baize, Addie Byrne, and Elizabeth Wright and sophomores Lanie Ann Osborne, Hannah Robbins, and Addie-Belle Rutman.
What areas do you hope to improve this season?
Apollo: I want to see Tori continue to improve and learn about all of the aspects of the game of golf. Mary Ann has many years of experience playing tournaments and needs to continue to work on her game to reach her goals. Golf is a life-long opportunity to be able to play at any age, and I hope both girls enjoy their senior season.
Daviess County: I would love for all of them to become better chippers and putters by the end of this season. We also need to improve our course management and eliminate big numbers on the scorecard.
Owensboro Senior: We need to get better around the greens. We need to do a better job with our chipping and putting. Better chips will lead to fewer putts, which is where I am hoping to see us cut down on our strokes and score lower than we previously had.
Owensboro Catholic: Every girl is a little different. I have been having them track their stats to really break down their game to find out what areas need the most focus. For the most part, their short game is a main focus. The goal is to completely eliminate three and four putts.
