After the varsity girls golf team’s regular season, two freshmen, Ashtynn Zuniga and Audrey Miller, made it to the Missouri state championship. This is the first time since 2017 that a Patriot girl golfer has qualified for state.
The state championship took place Oct. 21-22 at Dalhousie Country Club in Cape Girardeau. Zuniga took 20th place and Miller took 63rd place after the 2-day tournament.
“I am very proud of what these girls have accomplished, and it is even more impressive that they are doing it as freshmen,” said Coach Adam Weiss.
Senior Captian Mayson Bachlier said she was also proud of the freshmen.
“They have so much more that they can do in the next three years, and I believe that they will have some more records and state appearances,” she said.
During the regular season, Zuniga tied the South High record for the lowest 9-hole score when she shot a 36 at Crescent Farms in September.
“That was probably the best round I had this season, and I almost even broke the record, but I was left a challenging putt to do that. It was cool to have everyone else watching, that putt, but it was definitely really scary too” Zuniga said.
Weiss said Zuniga and Miller had to take on a very challenging district to even make it to the state tournament. The district includes schools like Visitation Academy, St. Joseph’s Academy, Jackson, and Westminster.
“This was pretty much the district of death, and to make it out of the district was a huge accomplishment itself,” he said.
While the season may be done for now, Zuniga and Miller don’t stop.
“I really play year-round, and I am going to continue to work to get better for next year,” Zuniga said.
While they are both among the top golfers in the state, they always find something that they think they can do better.
“My biggest thing that I am going to work on is my short game and specifically my pitching wedge,” Miller said.
The tournament took place somewhere unfamiliar for the golfers.
“I think the course was very pretty, but it was definitely a challenge… The hardest hole was definitely the 18th hole because of how long it was and how challenging the green was.” Zuniga said
The state tournament also had them face new opponents, and a new environment.
“This was definitely the hardest challenge of the season, I felt a lot of pressure while playing, and I didnt really play my best and how I wanted, but I still had a lot of fun, and hopefully I can play in this again next year,” Miller said.
The girls also played well in tournaments during the regular season, with many team and individual medals, and ending with a great performance out of them in the District championship.
“I had a feeling that I was going to go to state the whole day, but when it was official I was so happy, and relieved that I made it there,” Zuniga said about the District championship.
Overall the season ended with a 8-3 record.
“This season was great. I am so proud of all of the girls, and I can’t wait to see what we can do next season,” Weiss said.
