2012 In Review

From the very beginning, Kimball expected to battle Bridgeport for a place at state. Also from the first swing, Brooke Hager figured on another trip to Columbus.

Right on both counts.

The opening rounds of golf also gave Aaron Delhay’s squad some hope for knocking off their rivals by the time districts rolled around. The result—trailing Bridgeport 426 to 488 on Bayard’s Chimney Rock course, with Hager placing fourth on the leader board—earned an approving nod from Delhay and almost every Longhorn…with one unanimous caveat: “for the first time out.”

They had aimed for a 450. But strokes mounted due to first tournament jitters and early season inconsistencies.

“I had some tough holes,” said Tessa Shaw, who carded a 125 after playing a tee shot out of bounds on her second bout with the first fairway and dropping shots into the pond lurking between 4 and 7.

At Gering in early September, Hager broke 100, putting her ahead of the previous year’s pace.

After firing a 92 at Monument Shadows she beamed—but cautiously. “Hopefully,” she said, “it won’t be the last.”

At Ogallala the Longhorns captured their division--thanks in part to Hager’s stunning round of 88.

She held sway on the leader board, with Brianna Jones (100) recording a top five and Shaw (106) finishing 8th.

A few days earlier, Kimball’s girls took third in their division at Scottsbluff--Hager and Jones again appearing in the top ten.

At the start of a busy stretch, the Longhorns hosted an invitational at Four Winds, capturing the team title with a 438, besting Perkins County.

Hager’s 99 slotted her in second. Jones fired a 106 and Shaw recorded a 114.

“The greens were ridiculously fast,” Jones reported.

All through the rounds golfers found it difficult to control putts or stick hard approach shots.

Hannah Walker came in with a round of 119 and seemed somewhat pleased with the effort.

“I was hoping for another personal best,” she said. “But the same score as last time--I’ll take it.”

As districts approached, Kimball again butted heads with Bridgeport, finishing second to the Bulldogs at the conference tournament in Gordon and again four days earlier in Bridgeport’s home invitational.

Hager fired a 98 at district play in Ogallala, good enough for 10th spot on the leaderboard and--more significantly--a trip to the state tournament.

As a team, the Longhorns fell just 24 strokes shy of state contention, with a 452. Bridgeport--Kimball’s nemesis all season--took the third and final team slot.

“It was so close,” said Delhay. “This is the closest we’ve come to Bridgeport.”

Jones shot 113, followed closely by Shaw, who carded a 114 on the day. Walker ended with a strong 127.

Hager tied for 28th at Columbus. Conditions tested her and the other golfers on both days. Monday’s round, though warmed by sun, forced them to battle inconsistent winds.

As she wrapped up number 8, the Kimball golfer was threatening for the lead at 6 over. Then came the 9th hole—a 270 yard par 4 with a tricky fairway that flairs deceptively in front of a series of dangers.

Hager took an 8 after finding trouble.

“I had one bad hole and it went downhill from there,” she said.

Yet under even more difficult conditions on Tuesday, her play improved.

Hager hit close to par through the first seven, then birdied number 8.