On another cold and windy day Tuesday in Bolivar, the Trenton Lady Bulldogs wrapped up play in the Class 1 Missouri State High School Activities Association Girls Golf Championships. The Lady Bulldogs carded a 439 on day two and that mark, combined with their 419 on Monday, gave them a final total of 858, good for seventh place.
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The weather conditions were less than ideal for golf and cool temperatures and high winds were a staple of this year’s state tournament.
“The conditions were just absolutely atrocious for golf,” Lady Bulldogs’ Coach Jeremy Austin said. “It was cold and the sun rarely came out. The fact that the girls were able to go out there and compete at a high level says a lot about them and I am very proud of the way they played considering the conditions.”
Leading the way for the Lady Bulldogs in the tournament were Chandler Wilson and Haley Purkapile. Both players finished with a score of 199 over the two days, tying them for 41st overall in the tournament. Wilson carded a 104 on day two after shooting a 95 the day before and Purkapile bounced back from a 106 on day one to card a 93 on day two.
“Chandler had a really great first day and a very strong back nine to close it out,” Austin said. “She kind of struggled early on the second day, but she came back and shaved 12 strokes off her score on the back nine. Haley really did well on the second day. She was nervous and her back was really bothering her that first day and I’m sure it was still hurting on the second day, but she went out and played through it. She hit her first drive into the non-mowed area, but she put it right back on the tee and hit one of the best drives I have seen out of her this season. She really played exceptional from that point on.”
Behind Purkapile and Wilson, Katie Lenhart carded a 213 with a 99 on day one and a 114 on day two. Mackenzie Mack rounded out Trenton’s team total, hitting a 119 on day one and a 128 on day two for a total of 247. Gemma Gray was also in action for the Lady Bulldogs.
Outside of Wilson, Trenton’s other four golfers were in action at the state tournament for the first time ever in their careers. Two of those four, Lenhart and Purkapile, will be back next season along with Wilson.
“They were pretty uptight ladies,” Austin said of the state golf rookies. “That was to be expected because it is a big stage down there. You play your whole season with nobody watching you except for two coaches that you see all day and you go down there and there is a gallery of 20 people watching you tee off. It’s a big adjustment. It was good experience for them, though, and they played really well.”
Westminster Christian Academy won the state title, shooting a score of 673. Maryville was runner up with a 764 and Villa Duchesne rounded out the top three, shooting a 775. Westminster Christian had three of the top four medalists, including individual Class 1 state champion Brooke Cusumano, who paced the field with a two-day total of 164.
Trenton’s season came to a close following the state tournament. The season was a successful one that saw Trenton capture a district title and run a record of 8-0 in head-to-head matches. Trenton also won tournament titles in Kirksville, Gallatin and Schuyler County.