Westminster, St. Joseph’s, Lafayette set to compete in state golf tournaments

Westminster Christian Academy heads into the Class 1 state tournament as defending champions with plenty of momentum.

The Wildcats set a state record by winning the district with a 308 team score and then followed that with a 34-stroke sectional victory with a 328 score.

The two-day state tourney begins Monday (Oct. 15) at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club near Jefferson City.

“This team has gone above and beyond what we thought they would do at the beginning of the season,” Westminster coach Steve Bradley said. “We credit it to all their hard work and determination. This team has worked harder for this accomplishment than any team I’ve ever coached.”

In addition to Westminster Christian Academy, other schools in the Class 1 tournament include Mt. Vernon, Richmond, Sacred Heart, Maryville, Trenton, Moberly and Villa Duchesene.

“Looking at the sectional scores, it looks like Sacred Heart, Mt. Vernon and Villa are some tough teams along with the rest of the field,” Bradley said.

There will be no overconfidence on the part of the Wildcats.

“I used to think that we should guard against overconfidence, but this team does that so well without me preaching it,” Bradley said. “They have a healthy confidence that is not overbearing or consumed by pride.”

The Wildcats want to play well and try to bring home another championship trophy to Westminster. It’s a matter, Bradley said, of each girl doing what she needs to do at state.

Westminster’s squad includes senior and defending state champion Brooke Cusumano, junior teammate Jordan Wolf,  senior Ciara Younger, Megan Jean McDaniel  and McKenna Rae Montgomery.

“We feel good about our chances as long as we stay healthy and everyone does their job,” Bradley said. “It’s a two-day tournament. A lot can happen, and we’ll need to minimize our mistakes. We are just so glad to be back in the state tournament as a team with the opportunity to play well and represent our school.”

The only other local golfers at the Class 1 state tourney are MICDS’ Darby Brennan Hobbs and Abigail Grace Schroeder.

The Class 2 state tourney will be played at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau.  In addition to St. Joseph’s Academy and Lafayette, other schools in the state tournament include Rock Bride, Lee’s Summit West, Ursuline Academy, West Plains, Notre Dame de Sion and Blue Springs.

“The girls are quite excited to be going to the state championships,” Lafayette coach Gaylen Laster said. “It was something they talked about early in the season and worked very hard to accomplish. Last time we went to state as a team was three years ago. It is much harder to accomplish that feat now with the sectionals added.”

St. Joseph’s coach Carol Fromuth said the tournament is up for grabs.

“Rock Bridge and then Lafayette are the top two teams I think,” Fromuth said. “They’re a threat. Notre Dame de Sion is always a contender. I think we are just right there. We’re got a good chance in the tournament. The girls have to play well.”

Competing for St. Joseph’s Academy will be Kelsey Thompson, Paige Schwetz,  Michelle Campbell, Margaret Martel and Erin Bowman.

Lafayette will be represented by Biana Cullimore, Ashton Goldammer, Mindy Danna Hennrich, Sammi Charpentier and Michelle Stading.

Incarnate Word Academy has two golfers competing in Amanda Ressel,  and Elizabeth Francis.  Other local golfers at state are Parkway West junior Emily Goldenstein, who was the medalist in her sectional, Parkway Central’s Elizabeth Leath, and Marquette’s Morgan Schettler, Marquette and Allison Tichenor.

“I am quite happy for the girls since the last two years we fell short of making it to state as a team, but now we are one of the final eight teams in the championship,” Laster said.

The golf course will be challenging, Fromuth said.

“It’s got a great reputation,” Fromuth said about Dalhousie. “I hope the girls appreciate the quality of the course they get to play. It’s certainly ambitious to have the Class 2 girls state tournament there.

“The short game will be the key. Putting will be crucial at Dalhousie. There’s tall rough there, too. It’s going to be a challenge for the girls.”

The Angels missed going to state last year after making it 14 consecutive years.

“I think very excited to be back at state because they did qualify as a team,” Fromuth said. “That’s a good thing. It’s more fun for the girls to be there as a team.”