A THANK YOU NOTE...

Let's be frank: our High School Golf is in a stage of reconstruction, especially in the boys side. People who thrive on results, might not be too enthusiastic about our golf teams, but I am, and so should be everyone else.

Over the years, Elk City has had its share of successes, regional and state wide, high finishes by some of our boys and girls, even state championships by individuals or teams. When I came to Elk City, the boys team had won the State Championship the previous year, and over the next three years, they won two regional championships and never finished worse than 3rd in the State Championship.

Obviously, when the kids are doing well, everyone talked and asked about Joby, Dustin, Cory, Mark, Dave, Russ or Tyler and others who have helped give Elk City a good golf reputation, but, when they aren't, not many ask. It is the way it is. Everywhere. This year I heard questions about Logan and Kelsi. It is what it is, we can't help that.

But on Monday, I was very happy to see several of our members go and FOLLOW OUR TEAM, not just a single player, but the 90 shooters as well. And yes, several avid golfers, went to watch Quade Cummins, from Weatherford, who promises to be a very good Division I college prospect and Elk City's Logan Gore, who was in the same group and growing in leaps and bounds as a golfer. Logan, who only two years ago could barely break 80, shot rounds of 69-71 yesterday following several high finishes, including two wins this season. By far, he is the best player in our team, and could very well be a local star in the making. Only time will tell.

On the girls team, Kelsi Wilson has had the most success  Kelsi won 1st in the State Championship last year, in a tournament that ended up being cut to one round due to weather. This year, Kelsi won a couple of small tournaments, but her 1st place win, in terrible weather conditions late last month in the Regional Tournament in Weatherford, made this one of her best seasons ever. It can get better this week at the State Tournament where the whole team will also compete. It will be Kelsi's last high school year, for she will attend college at SWOSU in Weatherford where she was granted a well deserved golf scholarship.

On the boys side, only one (Logan Gore) boy qualified to go to the State Tournament next week while the rest of the team -Colin, Carter, Conner and Chance-, will stay home. Young Colin Dyson missed going by a single stroke while the whole girls team will be in Oklahoma City playing both, for individual and team titles.

Kelsi will be accompanied by Sierra Stout, Kelcee Millican, Kinsley Hall and Morgan Mckenzie. This is the third year that coach Sarah Peffer takes a team to the State Championship. Of her teams, maybe this one has the most "internal chemistry": I have not seen a team who has more fun together than these group of girls. I have never seen a more colorful group of girls, in every sense of the word. There was always something special during their practice sessions, inside the clubhouse or in competition.

Yes, we are happy for all of those who qualified for the State Tournament, and wish you well there. But personally, we (Ramona and I) want to thank you all, whether you qualified for the state tournament or not. Why? For all the good times you gave us this season. We thank you all for representing Elk City in the best of ways, with honor, honesty and character. We appreciated your attitude when  you played with a smile in the nice days (few) or in the horrible weather days (more than the nice days), days when the scores were soaring due to horrible weather conditions, which made some good golfers look bad, and some of the marginal players look like total beginners. In those days, you all played with a smile in your face, no matter if you made a par or multiples thereof.

Trust me, we've all been there, even those who do not seem to recognize how bad they felt when they did not play as well as they knew they could. Sometimes you not only competed against the the teams that showed up to the particular golf meet, you were somehow competing against ghosts of the past, trying to please someone.. if you ever feel like that, don't let it bother you. In the long run, it is your character that will stand more than your scores, even if your scores break all records, it is your character that you will be remembered for the most.

Because of that, we close by saying that you will never know of the times we were not having the best of days, for when any of you ten kids, and those who didn't make any of the teams, walked in the pro-shop, with that contagious youthful smile of each one of you,  instantly, you made our day better. You are all truly fun to watch and be around of. Thank you and we'll see you around.... again.

Highlight Footnote 1: Girls State Tournament: Team finished 7th, Kelsi Wilson finished 5th (83-79). Kelcee Millican shot her two personal best tournament scores of 91 and 87. As for Sierra, Kinsley and Morgan, who did not score under 100, they all showed potential and desire to improve. My prediction? Top 3 as a team next year!

Highlight Footnote 2: Logan shot round of 74-71-870/215 (one under par) to finish 4th overall in the individual part of the State Tournaemnt.