ARLINGTON – Chaiyong Kim went on a roller coaster to her first four holes at Sycamore Springs at Monday’s Division II District Golf Tournament.
“I doubled the first hole so I needed a birdie,” Kim said. “I made birdies in two, three, four to get to Wonder.”
The talented Mansfield St. Peter junior moves to the birdie nine for a 2 under on the turn.
“Then I shot three overs on the back nine, which was a bit of a bad thing,” Kim said with a laugh.
The two bogeys on the back are rip out and she even had a hole in the water from the tee, but manages to save Pa.
“My goal is to give her the confidence she needs to recover,” said St. Peter coach Jason Krunwell. “And that’s the best part, if she’s in a tough situation, then she’ll find her way.
“To make a hole like (No. 1), walk through it and go back to the game (special). She also struggled with a back nine in the practice round, but she really knew where she had to go today.”
The Back Nine also gave her trouble last year, but she was district runner-up and was able to shave one stroke from her previous appearance when she was the first state qualifier for the program, where she placed 13th at the Firestone Country Club.
“The green was really tough and it was so fast, so it was just tough,” Kim said of the back nine. “(But I’m happy), this is better because I got a 76 last year.
“I’m a bit nervous, I want to do better than last year,” she added about her return to the state.
Historic Days in Winford
Joining Kim at Heatherwood Golf Club in Springboro on October 6th and 7th is a program that will host state tournament debut Winford.
“It’s been a while,” Royals coach Sean Weisenauer said. “We’ve been here a few times and it’s getting closer. It’s really great to finally put it all together and finish the runner-up.”
A year ago, Winford closed out the best district tournament show at the 402, finishing in 7th place, and then Sophomore’s Caroline Sheldon missed the final individual state qualifying bid in one stroke.
When the final ball rolled in Monday, the Royals shot 373, finishing four strokes behind Archibald. And leading the way was nothing more than Sheldon, who kept him out of his chance to fire again, the fourth-lowest individual score of the day, the 79.
“I came out with a positive mindset, a better attitude, a better effort. “I started with a double bogey from a scary tee shot, then I came back from there, played a great front line and finished hard on my back. I was proud of it.
“If I had made it as an individual, it would have been great, but having my best friend around me is just the best thing.”
After shooting 48 at the back nine last year, Sheldon concluded with five consecutive pars, closing out the 39. Her 39th issue was only claimed by St. Joseph’s Central Catholic medalist runner-up Ryan Dickman and Van Buren’s Addison Adams in one stroke.
“We just let her do her. It’s fun to watch,” Weisenauer said.
“I never watch too many courses,” Sheldon added. “We came this weekend too, and we can see it again today. It helps us know the clubs that hit a certain hole and what putts we’re trying to make.”
Senior Riley Robinson finished 14th overall, and in ’91 juniors Maggie Ridge and Willa Johnson made 97 and 106 and sophomore Megan Young A 111.
“Willa had a hard time,” Sheldon Sid. “But she still has a par in the last hole and we can finish it and seal it for us.”
Other Results
Colonel Crawford came in 15th place as a 432 team led by 102 senior Sydney Fer. Sophomore Nolly Plank shot 103, junior Payton Laurinson A 104 and freshman Rayni Rush 123.
New London senior Olivia Aiter made his district tournament debut and concluded his career with 111.
zholden@gannett.com | 419-617-6018 | Twitter/X: @zachary_holden
