Washington High School kept its impressive girls golf season going by winning a district championship on Thursday, October 10.

Competing at the Class 3 District 1 Girls Golf Tournament at Wolf Hollow Golf Club, the Lady Jays captured a first place team finish by 15 strokes over the second-place team.

Washington placed first with a team score of 353. Cor Jesu finished second with 368 followed by Nerinx Hall (386), Parkway West (386), Rolla (401), Rockwood Summit (404), Poplar Bluff (409), Webster Groves (423), Farmington (488), Sikeston (495) and Cape Girardeau Central (522).

“Everyone did a great job in regards to their ball striking and course management, but their mental approach was their biggest edge over the other teams,” said Washington Golf Coach Ben Hornback. “Everyone stayed calm even when they put up lopsided scores here or there. No one let those uneven numbers turn into steaks of bogies or double bogies. Everyone kept their focus and bounced right back. That's the biggest reason they got to hoist program's first ever district championship.”  

The district champion (Washington) and runner-up (Cor Jesu) both advanced their top four player scores from the district tournament to the state tournament. Also advancing were the top 13 individual player scores not among the top four from the qualifying teams.

All five of Washington’s golfers advanced to state because their fifth golfer made the cut.

Leading the Lady Jays was Abby Blackwell, who carded an 18-hole round of 79, which placed her third in the individual standings behind Mehlville’s Evangelina Brown (75) and Webster Groves’ Catherine Grace LeFevre Nakatani (78).

Washington’s Ella Martin finished in a tie for fifth place overall with a round of 82. Also playing for the Lady Jays, and advancing to state, were Kloey O’Connell with 94, Josie Kemper with 98 and Lily Nieder with 104.

“The girls performed above expectations. I'm extremely proud of them. Both Kloey and Josie shot personal bests in spite of the course playing over 300 yards longer than it has all year. MSHSAA requires district courses to be 5,200 yards, so the girls played the course essentially from the yellow tees instead of the reds,” Hornback said. “All five girls qualified for the state championships. Typically, the top four golfers advance as a team, but Lily Nieder's 104 was the right on the cut number.” 

The MSHSAA Class 3 Championships are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, October 21 and 22, at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield. All participants will play 36 holes, 18 each day.

“The girls are thrilled to get to compete for a state title on October 21^st and 22^nd,” Hornback said.  

Washington claimed the Class 3 District 1 girls golf title on Thursday, October 10,

at Wolf Hollow. From left are Abby Blackwell, Ella Martin, Lily Nieder, Josie Kemper

and Kloey O’Connell.

Ella Martin, left, and Abby Blackwell earned all-district honors.