Girls golf team gets home course advantage
Moffat County High School girls varsity golf to host regional tournament
At a glance
Returning seniors: 1
Coach: Ann Marie Roberts
2009 state qualifiers: Heather Nicholson
Athletes to watch:
• Nicholson: A senior and only returning MCHS state qualifier, Nicholson again will be tasked with leading the Bulldogs. She finished 24th at the state meet in 2009 and was named all-conference at the end of last season.
• Nike Cleverly: The junior shot 100 at last year’s regional tournament, a mere three strokes away from qualifying for state.
• Callie Papoulas: Last year’s all-conference honorable mention returns as a junior. Papoulas finished with a 116 at the regional tournament.
At a glance
Returning seniors: 1
Coach: Ann Marie Roberts
2009 state qualifiers: Heather Nicholson
Athletes to watch:
• Nicholson: A senior and only returning MCHS state qualifier, Nicholson again will be tasked with leading the Bulldogs. She finished 24th at the state meet in 2009 and was named all-conference at the end of last season.
• Nike Cleverly: The junior shot 100 at last year’s regional tournament, a mere three strokes away from qualifying for state.
• Callie Papoulas: Last year’s all-conference honorable mention returns as a junior. Papoulas finished with a 116 at the regional tournament.
With a new girls varsity golf season fast approaching, coach Ann Marie Roberts has one goal for her team.
Go where no Moffat County High School girls golf team has gone before.
The state tournament.
“We want to take a team to state for the first time in history,” Roberts said.
Aiding the Bulldogs in their quest for state will be a home-course advantage.
“The regionals are here, so that will benefit us immensely,” Roberts said.
Yampa Valley Golf Course is where two-time state qualifier Heather Nicholson said she feels at home.
“This course has always felt like it’s mine — I have a connection with it,” she said. “When I heard it was going to be here, I was ecstatic.”
Nicholson, who finished second at last year’s regional meet in Montrose, said golfing at home would give her more time to focus.
“I know the course, and it’s not going to be stressful,” she said. “And I’ll get to sleep in my own bed.”
But before the team can compete on its home turf, it will need to get through a grueling regular season that starts March 22 at Bookcliff Golf Course in Grand Junction.
But the team has the talent to excel, Roberts said.
“It’s looking pretty promising,” she said. “Regionals are here, and we have five returning golfers, three new golfers, but two have played previously.”
Last year, Nicholson was the only MCHS golfer to make the trip to Patty Jewett’s in Colorado Springs for the state tournament.
This year, Nicholson wants to build on her 24th place finish from a year ago.
“My goal is to make it to state and to place better than I did last year,” she said. “I’m hoping to try and reach my personal best this year.
“If I can stay consistently in the 80s all year, I’ll be happy.”
The biggest change for Nicholson this season will be her role as the team’s mentor.
“It’s the role I have to take because I’m the only senior,” she said. “But it’s kind of fun. People have to ask you about certain things, and you feel important to them.”
Even with the new leadership role, Nicholson’s goal for the team remains the same.
“I want at least four placers at regionals so we can have a team for state,” she said. “For regionals, I want us to place high so more of us can go to state, or we can go as a team.”
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