Notre Dame girls golfers make most of inaugural season

When the Notre Dame girls golf team completed its first competition in school history Aug. 24 at Union County Country Club in Anna, Ill., the furthest thing from anyone's mind was Silo Ridge Golf Club, the site of the season-ending Class 1 state tournament.

The Bulldogs placed third in their debut. Not bad for a big moment in school sports history, that is if one ignores the fact there were just two other teams in the field.

Notre Dame placed 13 strokes behind host Eldorado and seven shots behind Anna-Jonesboro.

"We didn't know what to expect going into the first meet, but after that it was kind of an eye-opener," junior Morgan Schumer said. "It made us all want to work harder. We knew we could get there. We all were nervous the first meet. We all knew we could do well, but we all just had to get past the nerves."

Not only did the Bulldogs calm down, the squad played the remainder of its schedule like it had made a Lenten abstention: It gave up losing for the regular season.

Notre Dame golfers Morgan Schumer, Keira Soutar and Camille Brewer, from left, will compete in the Class 1 state golf tournament. (Kristin Eberts)

Notre Dame posted a 17-stroke road win against Farmington the next time out.

"We were fine after the second match," sophomore Camille Brewer said. "I think we gained a little confidence after we won the second match."

The Bulldogs finished first in the remainder of their dual and triangular meets, completing the regular season with an 8-2 record.

"The kids got used to playing matches and they worked out here really hard and they really improved," Notre Dame coach Jerry Grim said.

The success has continued in the postseason. Schumer, Brewer and senior Keira Soutar qualified for the two-day state tournament, which begins Monday at Silo Ridge in Bolivar, Mo.

Notre Dame recently won the Class 1 District 2 title by 24 strokes at Timber Lake Golf Course in Moberly, Mo., with Brewer claiming co-medalist honors.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Class 1 Sectional 1 tournament at Innsbrook Resort Golf Course in Wright City, Mo. Notre Dame finished fourth among five teams and fell short of the team qualification that went to the top two teams, but the Bulldogs advanced three individuals.

Notre Dame's postseason push emphasized the balance and depth that the first-year program exhibited throughout the season.

"Different girls step up at different times," Grim said. "It seems like someone is always picking the other one up."

Soutar struggled to a 109 and did not factor into the team score at the district tournament. But she chopped 21 strokes off her score at the sectional in a round of 88 to lead Notre Dame with a seventh-place finish.

"Coming back to sectionals was a big change for me because I think I was playing with better people," Soutar said. "And I played two practice rounds, so I knew the course pretty well."

Not even a 10 on a par 5 could prevent her from shooting an 88 on the par-70 course.

Schumer also bettered her district score by nine strokes with a 94 that tied her for 15th. Brewer was two strokes back with a 96.

"I really didn't really expect to go to state," Soutar said. "I thought we had a really good chance going into districts with the girls we had."

Program tees off

Notre Dame has come a long way since last fall, when the decision was made to add girls golf.

The decisions to add girls tennis and girls golf came after a survey was conducted at the high school and feeder schools to gauge interest in particular sports.

"Tennis and golf were the two primarily for the girls, so they decided to do it," Grim said. "And they had some help with the tennis courts and someone is helping a bit with the golf. And we got us a team."

Soutar said she's been playing golf since seventh grade, but she has taken it more seriously the last couple years after hearing talk of the possible addition of girls golf at Notre Dame.

"I was pretty excited," Soutar said about learning there would be a girls team. "We've been really pushing for a girls team for a couple of years. I was glad it came while I was in school and not next year."

Soutar has been on the school swim team the last few years, but Brewer is getting her first taste of high school athletics.

Brewer said she's played golf for about three years.

"I was really excited and hoping that I would make the team," Brewer said.

Schumer has played basketball both her previous years at Notre Dame. She also played soccer last spring and volleyball last fall.

"I heard about it last year that it was a possibility and I was real excited, but I played volleyball at the time," Schumer said. "That decision which one to play was going to be hard, but I'm glad with my decision to play golf. I'm excited that we have a team now. It'll be good for our school."

Thirteen girls tried out for the golf team and 10 stayed the course.

There were varying amounts of experience among the group. Schumer and Soutar were among the more seasoned, having played in the Gateway Junior PGA Series last summer.

"I thought we would [have some skill]," Grim said. "And I really thought these three girls here would be it, too."

Finding opponents

Dalhousie Golf Club became the school's home course, and Illinois became a home away from home.

Girls golf virtually is nonexistent in Southeast Missouri, so Anna-Jonesboro, Carbondale, Eldorado and Marion provided the bulk of the Bulldogs' competition.

"It seems like all those little towns in Illinois, and all those schools, have golf teams," Grim said. "Over there they play boys and girls in the fall, but we still could get in and play the girls, which really helped us."

The closest Missouri opponent was Farmington, which has had girls golf for about 10 years. The Bulldogs beat the Knights in home and away matches.

Central, Sikeston and Poplar Bluff used to have girls golf, but he is hopeful other local schools will add the sport.

"There are some people in Jackson that really want to get a girls golf team," Grim said. "All they have to do is convince the school board."

Dalhousie, which has gained national acclaim since opening in 2002, has provided an intimidating home-course advantage for the Bulldogs.

"It's definitely the hardest course we've had to play all season," Schumer said. "I think it helps us."

The Bulldogs practice on the undulating greens and know the trek well, including the dangers that lurk.

"They all think it's really tough," Schumer said about visiting teams. "I think a lot of the girls come in that have never played it and they struggle a little bit, not knowing what to expect and not knowing the holes. It's hard when it's a hard course and you have no idea what's ahead of you."

It's all been part of the equation that has brought success in the maiden season.

"Truthfully we've done a lot better than I thought we would," Grim said. "The girls didn't know a lot of the courses that we played, and that was a challenge. But they've really adapted well. They've surprised the heck out of me. I thought we wouldn't be too bad, but some of these girls came on and really did a good job."

While the Bulldogs opened their season traveling east to a loss, they conclude their inaugural campaign traveling west, already packing a feeling of triumph.

"I'm proud of us," Brewer said. "We come a long way."