Payge Pleimann leads Hickman to its best score of the season.
During the summer, Hickman girls’ golf coach Doug Steinhoff asked his team if it wanted to have fun or work hard to earn a state berth. Six matches into the season, the Kewpies are proving they can have both.
The Kewpies beat the Southern Boone County Eagles 165-223 on Tuesday at L.A. Nickell.
Payge Pleimann (38) and Ashley Mansfield (41) led the Kewpies (5-1).
“I didn’t really have golf on my mind,” Pleimann said. “I cleared my head and went out there and played. Everything was just in tune today. My drives have been going farther than they have and my putting is good.”
Pleimann credits her experience as the No. 2 golfer last season for her ability to withstand the pressure of being the Kewpies’ No. 1 golfer.
“I don’t feel the pressure,” Pleimann said. “It doesn’t matter what number I am; all scores count the same.”
Mansfield played despite being in a serious car accident last week. She said she has been having back spasms, causing her to change her swing.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball straight today, pulling stuff left trying to compensate for the hurt,” Mansfield said.
Mansfield is scheduled to see a doctor Thursday to determine whether her injury will cause her to miss time.
“Not that it’s going to end my season, but I’m worried if its going to have an impact on my season and for how long,” Mansfield said. “I’m worried that it may hinder me for a while, but hopefully I can get over it.”
Rachel Jacoby (42) and Hillary Jones (44) helped the Kewpies finish off the Eagles (0-3), and secure Hickman’s best score of the season. Steinhoff said the score was better than he expected.
“The best part about today was that we were very consistent,” Steinhoff said. “I would say, without a doubt, that this is the best match we’ve had.”
Although the Kewpies continue to win matches and enjoy themselves, Steinhoff acknowledges that his team is a long way from where it needs to be.
“The having fun part is the fact that they have great personalities,” Steinhoff said. “I think they would have fun no matter what. The trick for me was trying to get them to take it serious enough and get to state because when you get to state, it is fun.”