The individual title at Monday’s Prairieland Conference Girls Golf championships proved to be Taylor- made for a Macomb High sophomore.
Taylor Mann topped the field, shooting an 87 in claiming medalist honors at the Macomb Country Club.
“It is really exciting when it’s somebody’s first big tournament win,” said MHS golf coach Brian Sullivan. “It’s hard to beat 35 people at once. It only takes one other person to shoot really well to beat you.”
Mann finished tied for second a year ago behind classmate and teammate Reese Watson.
As a team, the Bombers finished second behind Illini West after winning the title a year ago.
The Chargers posted a team score of 362, besting MHS by 23 strokes.
Brimfield was third at 419, followed by Farmington (457), Elmwood (475), Havana (523) and Bushnell-Prairie City (680).
LVC had just three golfers and did not figure in the team standings.
Playing on the 5,415-yard par 72 layout, Mann opened her round with a birdie on 15 and was three over par at the turn.
“That definitely made it less stressful and easier,” said Mann of playing out at the Country Club.
But her second nine proved to be a challenge that included four bogeys, three double bogeys and a triple bogey on 10.
But she also converted a key birdie on 12.
“I can’t let one shot ruin my game,” said Mann. “I have to just keep going.”
“Focus is a good word to use,” said Sullivan of Mann. “I’ve noticed the last three times she’s played, an extra level of focus she’s had on the golf course.”
“She’s locked in and focused right now,” he added. “And I look for her to keep it going.”
Her final putt on 14 closed the deal. “I was really excited,” said Mann.
Taylor Mann pic with her medal after winning Monday's Prairieland
“On my last putt, I knew I needed to make it, not to win, I just knew I needed to finish off the hole with a good score.”
She edged Illini West junior Audrey Sullivan by one stroke.
Also for the Bombers, Watson finished third with a 90 (40-50) in earning all-conference honors for the second straight season.
Freshman Kennedy McGraw carded a 94 (43-51) to finish eighth, also earning all-conference honors.
“I was super-pleased with how the top of our lineup played,” said Sullivan.
Freshman Emma Rigg was next at 116, followed by seniors Mullen Butcher (117) and Emrey Seward (133).
As for other all-conference selections, all six players from Illini West finished in the top 10, earning Prairieland accolades.
Priya Wear finished third with a 90, followed by Charli Wisehart (fifth, 91), Taylor Donaldson (sixth, 93), Raina Flynn (ninth, 95) and Bridgette Teesdale (10th, 97).
“Hat’s off to Illini West, they’re really good,” said coach Sullivan. “There’s absolutely no shame in losing to them.”
Also earning all-conference honors were Elmwood’s Emily Anderson (tie for sixth, 93) and Brimfield’s Rachel Fell, tie for 10th, 97).
B-PC, making its first tournament appearance, was led by Finley Hess with a 142, followed by Abby Waldo (173), Ayden Berry (182) and Jamea Perry (183).
After playing Wednesday, the Bombers looked to Saturday’s home invitational at Gold Hills.
“We’re all learning off of each other,” said Mann. “It’s really like growing as a team, playing together and practicing together.”
“That’s always a big deal for us to play well at that,” said Sullivan. “After that, it’s ironing out our top six players for our regional.”
“It’s going pretty good,” said Mann. “I’m just really hoping it keeps going good into the postseason and gets back to where we were last year.”
Jersee Mills
Grace O'Hern
Mullen Butcher Photos by Andrea Ratermann
