Emme Sims watches a putt approach the hole during a dual at Pheasant Run earlier this season in September.
Plainsmen girls three strokes short of state berth
Rich Borman’s Plainsmen girls golf team experienced one of their biggest disappointments of the season at the C-5 district golf in Kimball on Monday.
The girls went in with a legitimate shot for a third-place finish, which would qualify the team for the state tournament.
When all cards were tallied, the Plainsmen finished just three strokes out of third place.
To miss qualifying by three strokes was “a tough pill to swallow and our team was very disappointed,” Borman said.
Mitchell and Valentine finished first and second respectively at 380 and 394.
The Plainsmen finished with a 472, just three strokes behind Creek Valley at 469.
Borman said the Plainsmen have owned Creek Valley all season but one of their girls shot one of her best rounds ever to knock out the Plainsmen.
In addition, the Plainsmen were unable to qualify anyone individually.
He noted his team will learn a lot from this experience going forward.
Three of the five girls have only been playing golf for six months. Despite that, he said they nearly overcame the challenge.
He said some four-putt greens and some strategic errors during the girls’ rounds made the difference. “That’s on me as a coach,” he noted.
He credited seniors Emme Sims and Kayla Reichenberg for their leadership this season, evident by shooting their personal best at the Kimball course Monday.
Reichenberg shot a 104, four strokes out of 10th place, with Sims close behind at 106.
Emma Klahn finished with a 128, Kaitlyn Meyer a 134 and Maddy Ingold with a 148.
Borman is already looking forward to next year. He said the team’s success this season is laying the foundation for an even better season next year.
The girls wrapped up a second place finish in their final regular season meet at the Dundy County Stratton meet in Benkelman last Thursday.
The Plainsmen shot a 425 to finish second behind the North Platte High jayvee squad at 417.
Sims and Reichenberg each medaled with Sims at 5th and Reichenberg in 7th, both with 100s. Ingold finished with a 112, Klahn with a 113 and Meyer with a 124.