East's O'Doherty wins in playoff
Jacqueline O’Doherty chose “paper,” which beat McKayla Anderson’s “rock,” and got to tee off first in the playoff for medalist honors at the Heartland Athletic Conference golf tournament Thursday at Pioneers Golf Course.
O’Doherty, a Lincoln East sophomore, made a short putt for par and won the title, while Anderson took consolation in Fremont’s relatively comfortable team title and her runner-up finish.
Fremont finished with a team total of 335, followed by Lincoln Southwest at 370, Lincoln Southeast at 373, Grand Island at 388 and Lincoln East at 425.
“I was really nervous because McKayla is one of the best players in the state and I’d never been in a playoff before,” said O’Doherty, who tied Anderson with a 3-over-par 78. “This was my first sub-80 round in competition and I was just thankful that we had nice weather for once.”
A week ago, Anderson shot a 78 and won a playoff for the Norfolk Invitational title, while O’Doherty finished with an 89.
In Thursday’s playoff, O’Doherty recovered from a tee shot into the trees on the right of the fairway of the No. 1 hole and two-putted for par, while Anderson watched her approach shot hit the cart path and soar 30 feet over the green.
“This was a lot of fun, but my nerves are shot,” said O’Doherty, who shot 38-40, while Anderson, a junior, carded 42-36.
“I’ve been working on chipping when not practicing with the team and that’s helped,” she said. “It also helped to make a 30-footer on No. 14 and a 25-foot birdie on No. 16.”
Mariel Groh of Fremont finished third and Ariel Blackman, a Lincoln High freshman, was fourth. Both golfers shot 84s. Gentry Carveth, a freshman from Southwest, was sixth at 86.
Anderson said she played some of her best golf to shoot 1-over-par on the back nine. She posted birdie on Nos. 10, 11, 15 and 17.
“I started making some putts from 10 feet and in and that’s been something I’ve worked on a lot,” she said.
Her eagle attempt on No. 15 was short. But she made the easy birdie on the par-5 uphill hole.
Girls high school golfers will compete in the district tournaments Monday and Tuesday. The Class A state tournament is Oct. 13-14 at the Norfolk Country Club. Class B plays at Riverside Country Club in Grand Island and Class C at Indianhead Golf Course in Grand Island.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
O’Doherty, a Lincoln East sophomore, made a short putt for par and won the title, while Anderson took consolation in Fremont’s relatively comfortable team title and her runner-up finish.
Fremont finished with a team total of 335, followed by Lincoln Southwest at 370, Lincoln Southeast at 373, Grand Island at 388 and Lincoln East at 425.
“I was really nervous because McKayla is one of the best players in the state and I’d never been in a playoff before,” said O’Doherty, who tied Anderson with a 3-over-par 78. “This was my first sub-80 round in competition and I was just thankful that we had nice weather for once.”
A week ago, Anderson shot a 78 and won a playoff for the Norfolk Invitational title, while O’Doherty finished with an 89.
In Thursday’s playoff, O’Doherty recovered from a tee shot into the trees on the right of the fairway of the No. 1 hole and two-putted for par, while Anderson watched her approach shot hit the cart path and soar 30 feet over the green.
“This was a lot of fun, but my nerves are shot,” said O’Doherty, who shot 38-40, while Anderson, a junior, carded 42-36.
“I’ve been working on chipping when not practicing with the team and that’s helped,” she said. “It also helped to make a 30-footer on No. 14 and a 25-foot birdie on No. 16.”
Mariel Groh of Fremont finished third and Ariel Blackman, a Lincoln High freshman, was fourth. Both golfers shot 84s. Gentry Carveth, a freshman from Southwest, was sixth at 86.
Anderson said she played some of her best golf to shoot 1-over-par on the back nine. She posted birdie on Nos. 10, 11, 15 and 17.
“I started making some putts from 10 feet and in and that’s been something I’ve worked on a lot,” she said.
Her eagle attempt on No. 15 was short. But she made the easy birdie on the par-5 uphill hole.
Girls high school golfers will compete in the district tournaments Monday and Tuesday. The Class A state tournament is Oct. 13-14 at the Norfolk Country Club. Class B plays at Riverside Country Club in Grand Island and Class C at Indianhead Golf Course in Grand Island.
Reach Ken Hambleton at 473-7313 or khambleton@journalstar.com.
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