A good season comes from a good team, and that’s clear when you look at North High’s girls’ golf team. The team had athletes place in multiple meets this season and had one state qualifier. The season started with North competing in all the local meets with a scoring average of 371 in 12 meets and placing among the top teams multiple times. Some stand-out competitors are seniors Izzy Johnson and Brooklyn Woodard, and sophomores Kathryn Wald and Olivia Carney.
Johnson, a captain, has been playing for North’s team since she was in 8th grade, after she quit cross country. “I became a captain by being a team leader and getting to know each player. My favorite part about being a captain is being able to schedule fun activities and also the opportunities to meet new people to come with it as well,” she said. Years of playing golf led to Johnson being the only girl at North to qualify for the state competition.
It’s a big deal to represent your school at state, but it can come with conflicting emotions when you have to leave your team behind. “I have mixed emotions. I really wanted my whole team to be able to come with me to state, so I am very sad to be going alone,” said Johnson. “And since it’s my last season, EDC was the last tournament I will ever have with my teammates. It’s very bittersweet. I just hope for the best for each of the girls next year and the years to come.”
To make the state tournament, golfers have to participate in three qualifying events. There are two meets where individuals can qualify, then there is one competition, EDC, where the entire team can qualify. To qualify for state, golfers have to shoot within 15 strokes of par, which is the expected number of hits to complete a hole, or within 15 strokes of first place. Johnson qualified when she golfed an 81 on a par 71 at Rose Creek Golf Course.
Although the team didn’t get to compete with Johnson at state, it was still a good season. “In the regular season, we were in the top six teams or not a whole lot of strokes away from the sixth place team for a majority of the meets. Even though EDC didn’t go how we wanted it to go, I think overall we had a fun and successful season,” said Wald.
Golf isn’t like other sports at North because there is no audience following them to each hole, and there’s no Rowdy Crowd at their meets. “We have a lot of parents that come to watch us while we play. Other than professionally, golf isn’t much of a spectator sport. In high school golf, golfers can’t talk to spectators and they have to keep a distance from spectators. Golf is a very mental game in which the golfer is always thinking about their next shot. Whether the previous shot was good or not, you just have to move on from it,” said Wald.
One of the positives of not having a crowd is the connections made within the team. “Something I don’t think people know about golf is the amount of relationships and friends you will make. Each tournament, you are put with a group of people. Sometimes they’re different, but most of the time it’s the same. The amount of people I have met through the past 5 years is incredible. I will always cherish the friendships I’ve made throughout my golf experience,” said Johnson.
But there are still struggles when it comes to not having a crowd. “It can be hard when you have a really good shot or hole and no one can really cheer for you or vice versa, if you are having a really bad day and you don’t have anyone to pick you up. When it’s dead silent, it can also be kinda scary if you mess up,” said Johnson.
But any hardships are overridden by the community that the girls have found in the sport. Just listen to Johnson, “It’s so fun and the people involved are always so kind. No one will ever judge you on how good or even bad you are. Anyone can join at any age. That’s the glory of golf, it’s a lifelong sport and you don’t even have to be good. We all were just there for a good time. So if you aren’t in a fall sport, or even if you are, think about how much fun you would have,”
North’s golf has such a supportive team and culture, and it’s going to be looking for more players, so go join next year!
Izzy Johnson/Captain/state qualifier questions
How did you become captain?
I became a captain by being a team leader and getting to know each player. As well as
How many years have you been playing with North?
I have been on the golf team since 8th grade, after quitting cross country
What’s your favorite part of being a captain?
My favorite part about being a captain is being able to schedule fun activities and also the opportunities to meet new people to come with it as well.
What is the process of trying out for state?
The process to qualify for state is: There are 3 different qualifiers throughout the season, 2 of which are individual qualifiers and the last one which is EDC where you can qualify either as a team or also as an individual. To qualify you have to shoot within 15 strokes of par or the f.irst place finisher (which ever is higher). For me I qualified at the 2nd individual qualifier and shot a 83 which was within 12 strokes of par (par is 71).
How do you feel about being the only girl from north to qualify?
Mixed emotions. I really wanted my whole to be able to come with me to state, so I am very sad to be going alone. And since its my last season EDC was the last tournament I will ever have with my teammates. Its very bittersweet. I just hope the best for each of the girls next year and years to come.
Whats something you think people dont know about golf?
Something I don’t think most people know about golf is the amount of relationships and friends you will make. Each tournament you are put with a group of people. Sometimes times there different but sometimes the same. The amount of people I have met through the past 5 years is incredible. I will always cherish the friendships i’ve made through out my golf experience.
Is there anything difficult about being captain of a sport that doesn’t have an audience or crowd watching the matches.
It can be hard when you have a really good shot or hole and no one can really cheer for you or vice versa if ur having a really bad day and you don’t have anyone to pick you up. When its dead silent it also can be kinda scary if you mess up. People can come watch if they want but in my opinion its probably really boring. Since you can’t cheer on who ever your watching. You can clap at times, but just not obnoxiously loud.
what would you tell people who want to join golf?
Its so fun and the people involved are always so kind. No one every will judge you on how good or even bad you are. Anyone can join at any age. Thats the glory of golf is its a life long sport and you don’t even have to be good lol. I definitely was not the greatest when I started but no one ever judged me. We all were just there for a good time. So if you aren’t in a fall sport or even if you are think about how much fun you would have and the amount of people you would meet. I quit cross country because I saw how fun the golf team was, also because I hated running 🙂
