HURON — With one of the youngest golf teams in the state, having the Class AA State Girls’ Golf Tournament at Broadland Creek Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday will lend itself to the benefit of the Huron Tigers.
“They need to go out over the next two days at the state meet and believe they belong there. Being on their home course will help,” said Huron coach Chris Rozell of his team, which consists of one senior, two eighth-graders and a seventh-grader. “They have put in the time and practice, now is the time to go out and perform above their age.”
Jayda Shillingstad is the lone senior on the roster for the Tigers and has been a good leader for the younger golfers, according the Rozell.
“Jayda has been a great leader this season,” he said. “She has a calming effect on the younger girls and they feel comfortable going to her for advice.”
Joining Shillingstad for the Tigers at the state meet will be eighth-graders Karlie Bigelow and Mattie Huber, along with seventh-grader Kenya Bigelow.
“They all have taken each meet head on,” Rozell said of his three younger golfers. “Good or bad, they looked toward the next practice and meet as a chance to get better.”
Shillingstad had a low round of 93 this season on the home course for the Tigers, while Karlie Bigelow and Huber each had shot 94s. Kenya Bigelow brings a low round of 101 into the state meet.
“My expectations for this state tournament is to improve on our best scores of the season,” Rozell said. “On our home course this is something I feel we can do two days in a row.”
Although turning in a season-best score might not translate into making Huron a contender for a top spot in the final team standings, Rozell believes it will pay dividends for the Tigers in the future. He pointed to Aberdeen Central’s team as an example.
“Aberdeen was young and inexperienced a couple of years ago, now they are contending for a state title,” Rozell said. “My goal is for our girls to use all these experiences to help them to succeed in the future.”
Joining the Golden Eagles on Rozell’s list of teams contending for the Class AA state championship this season is Sioux Falls O’Gorman.
“The top two teams all season have been O’Gorman and Aberdeen Central,” he said. “Each team has players that can win the individual medalist honors.”
Yankton is the defending Class AA girls’ team championship.
Play is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. both days.
