Mules duo ready for state golf tournament

One-two punches are key in a lot of sports. Boxing being the most obvious but it has its place in other forms of competition as well.

For Poplar Bluff girls golf, the Lady Mules have their own version of a one-two punch in junior Olivia Thetford and sophomore Rhyan Waddell as the duo is headed to state for the second year in a row.

The PB pair will tee it up at Crown Pointe Golf Club on Monday for the MSHSAA Class 3 State Golf Championships in Farmington.

Thetford carded a 77 at the district meet last week and finished second overall while Waddell finished with an 87 to tie for 12th. Both earned all-district honor for their efforts as coach Tyler Davis has been able to rely on the two players throughout the season.

Neither player said they felt they played to their potential last season so they’ve both got improving on their minds ahead of next week.

“Last year I didn’t do as well as I wanted to at districts and state so this year I knew I wanted to improve in both of them,” Thetford said. “I was definitely expecting to go to state this year but I already did better at districts so I’m expecting a lot at state too.”

While the two wanted to results, they weren’t afraid to put in the work as well.

Waddell said she’s progressed a lot since last season and her coach agrees.

“From her last year to this year is night and day,” Davis said. “Last year she struggled. She was able to make it to state but this year, it was not even close in terms of her not making it. The fact she’s willing to put in the work, even outside of practice, is refreshing.”

For Thetford, her jump is so much that she needs to remind herself to keep a level head sometimes.

“I think that my scores that improved so much recently that I forget that I’ve improve so much,” she said. “So when I’m shooting decent numbers, it feels like not going well but compared to last year, I’m doing really well. It’s hard to mentally remember that when I’m playing.”

Neither playing is going to change very much in the next few days but it’s all about fine-tuning what they already do well.

“I’m just going to come out here and practice, do what I normally do. My normal routine,” Thetford said. “Make sure I’m not really thinking about it too much. Having fun at practic ebut making sure I’m focusing on every shot hit but not stressing out about it, not thinking about it too much.”

While Waddell said she’s going to work on her game as well, she said it’s not all about what she does on the course.

“I’m going to try to keep my mental game strong,” she said is key in her preperation for state.

Poplar Bluff sophomore Rhyan Waddell stares down a putt during a practice last week at Westwood Hills Country Club in Poplar Bluff. DAR/Tyler Dixon

Thetford has had several top-three finishes this season and said one reason for it is her ability to to make shots no matter where she is on the course.

“I think my ability to make the best out of the shots that I hit,” she said is her strength. “If I don’t hit a good shot, I can still save par or take my medicine if I hit it in the water. Take a bogey and bounce back and make a birdie afterward.”

Thetford said she hopes state is a jumping off point for next season.

“I just have to keep constantly reminding myself that I am impriving a lot and I can improve more going into my senior year,” she said. “I just have to remind myself a lot when I’m out there playing not as well as I expect.”

The Lady Mules will hit the course on Monday in Farmington.