Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Kimball Golfers Payton Wise, Katie Heeg Qualify For State
It might look like it, but this is not the Britsh Open. This is Kimball Longhorn golfer Payton Wise taking a swing on the rugged McCook golf course during her district championship round that qualified her for State. Her amazing teammate Katie Heeg, who just took up the game of golf this season, also qualified.
Payton Wise is a medalist yet again. She's all smiles with her District medal.
Kimball will have two golfers in next week's girls state golf tournament at Lake Maloney Golf Course in North Platte as Payton Wise and Katie Heeg both earned top 10 finishes at the district tournament in McCook this past Tuesday.
On a very difficult hilly course with tall native grass on every hole, Wise shot the best score of the day to take top individual honors with her round of 88.
Heeg finished eighth with her round of 117, and the sophomore teammates will both move on to state play.
Maddie Cook gave a good effort, but her round of 142 was not up to her usual play. It took a round of 122 or better to make the top 10 and earn an individual state qualifying spot.
"I am so excited for the girls, and to have two state qualifiers," Longhorns coach Katie Culek said. "Payton came through like I expected her to, and Katie really stepped up and showed great poise in her first appearance in a district tournament setting. She performed great in really tough conditions.
"It is rather scary to get after it at a district competition, and the course was so tough with the hills and tall grass. I am so proud of them."
Wise is making her second state appearance, having qualified as a freshman. She was a state medalist a year ago as well when the weather determined that the format be lowered to just one day of competition.
The Kimball girls will leave a day early, at least, to get ready for state tournament Monday and Tuesday.