Girls golf finishes 11th at state

The Custer girls golf team competed at the State A Golf Tournament at Bakker Crossing Golf Course in Sioux Falls June 3-4.
Out of the 12 qualifying teams competing, the Wildcats took 11th place with a total score of 823. Sioux Falls Christian was the top team, with a combined score of 634. At the end of the first day of competition the team stood in 10th place with a score of 412, ahead of Belle Fourche and Mobridge-Pollock. By the end of day two the Belle Fourche Broncs took over Custer’s spot in the competition.
“I think the girls played better than what their scores show,” said head coach Haley Uphoff. “They didn’t post the scores that they were hoping for, but they played some really good golf.”
Something that affected everyone was the 90 degree heat in Sioux Falls on the first day.
“The first day was really hot,” said Uphoff, “That was hard on the girls. It took a lot out of them. We really haven’t played any days when it was hot.”
Winning the tournament was Kailtlin Strain of St. Thomas More, who totaled 152 strokes.
Jordyn Uphoff was the top scorer from Custer out of the bunch, earning 54th place with a combined score from both days at 201. She sat at 101 after day one and combined it with 100 the next day.
Not too far behind was Lauryn Robb, who carded 205 to tie for 56th place with four other golfers. She improved her score on the second day from 106 to 99.
In 62nd place was Shauna Zacher, who finished with 207 strokes. She carded 103 the first day and 104 the next.
Quinn Lewison’s score after two days of competition totalled to 210, giving her 67th place. Her score after day one was 102 and 108 the next day.
Tying for 81st place was Maddie Meyer, who scored 234. She scored 121 the first day and 113 the second day.
Uphoff said that after the first day, the team worked hard to improve its scores the next day.
“I was really proud of them for bouncing back. We talked a lot about mental toughness,” said Uphoff.
The team is expecting to make another run at the state tournament again next year too—this time with more experience and more confidence. The team loses four seniors this year, two of which were on the state team.
Uphoff said the team will have “three really good leaders coming back in Shauna, Jordyn and Quinn.”
“It will be easy for the other kids to follow them and come together as a new team,” said Uphoff. “We have some shoes to fill but I’m confident in the kids we have.”