The girls golf team played in the Illinois vs. Missouri River Challenge this weekend, placing first of the five Illinois teams competing.
The Tigers’ success this weekend reclaimed their winning title after earning second place last year. Coach Elizabeth Koonce told the Intelligencer in 2022 the girls’ elevated scores that year may have been caused by a poor-kept course.
Following last week’s win at the O’Fallon invite, the team was feeling confident about the weekend’s challenge.
“It always feels good going into the next tournament after a win,” senior Sophia Rankin said. “The River Challenge is a fun tournament, and we were all excited.”
All six girls shot under 90 at the tournament – enough to earn them the lowest Illinois scores.
With the success, Rankin said she was proud of how the team performed.
“The Orchards is not an easy course,” Rankin said. “Our goal was to win top school for Illinois and that’s what we did.”
The golf season isn’t finished yet, but junior Alayna Garman is setting her goals far in advance.
“I want to shoot low 80s before the season ends,” Garman said. “It would be helpful to do that in postseason to lower the team score. I am most excited for regionals…I feel really confident putting up a good score.”
As a senior, Rankin is looking more at the big picture.
“My biggest goal for this season is to keep my mental game strong and finish the year on a good performance,” Rankin said. “No matter how far we make it in the postseason, I will be proud of our season and proud of all of the girls.”
