The Garden City Telegram
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Rash, area golfers chase Goodland's Gausman
Published 10/1/2008 in None : Area High Schools
By BRETT MARSHALL
bmarshall@gctelegram.com
ULYSSES -- It would seem that most of the high school girls golfers in southwest Kansas' smaller classifications (4A and under) are chasing Goodland's Chelsie Gausman.
After all, the Cowgirls' senior has garnered medalist honors at the two most recent area golf tournaments -- last Thursday at Buffalo Dunes with a 9-hole score of 44 and then in an 18-hole tournament Tuesday at Ulysses' Bentwood Golf Course when she posted an 84 to win by five shots over Oakley's Jordan Albers.
One of those golfers chasing Gausman was Syracuse junior Kamie Rash, who finished fourth individually with a 93. She also tied for fourth at Buffalo Dunes last week in an event hosted by Holcomb.
For Gausman, who has steadily watched her scores going down this fall, it was a 3-over-par 39 on her opening nine holes that propelled her to the individual title and her team into second place behind first place Larned. It was the first time she has broken 40 on nine holes in competition.
"Putting was the key," Gausman said. "I think I had just 14 putts on the first nine holes but I still need to work on my driving. But I'm so excited to break 40 for nine (holes)."
Rash, who is virtually playing her first full year of competitive golf, is still finding room for improvement as she moves halfway into the fall schedule. She was a Telegram all-area track honoree this past spring after placing in three individual events at the state track meet. Her sophomore season of golf was halted early a year ago after she suffered a broken nose which required surgery and a long recovery which kept her out the remainder of the year.
"I just played in a couple of tournaments last year so this feels like my first year," Rash said. "Today, I was doing good and then I started hitting it left. The only thing left on this course is trees."
Rash is hoping that her consistency will improve as the season progresses and she, along with many area golfers, won't have to wait long as they tee it up Saturday in the Lakin Invitational.
"I think my course management has gotten unbelievably better," Rash said. "It's all thanks to (coach Rick) Mathias. He's helping me know which club to use, how to approach a shot, how to score."
Still, as with most golfers, Rash knows there is room to improve.
"I'm somewhat happy but I wish it (improvement) was more than what it is," Rash said. "I'll just have to work harder."
Holcomb's girls placed third in the team standings and were led by sophomore Amy Stegman's 98 (52-46). Lakin's Lady Broncs were fourth and Caitlin Beymer had the team's low score for the day with a 97. Both scores placed the girls in the individual top 10. Katelynn Cantrell shot a 96 (46-50) to pace Ulysses' team and that garnered her a sixth place individual finish.
Notes: Coaches were discussing the announcement that for the first time, Classes 6A and 5A will be split into their own competitions for regional and state tournaments while 4A will also be by itself. Classes 3-2-1A will remain combined. Ulysses will host the 4A regional on October 13 while Lakin hosts the 3-2-1A event on the same day as does Southwind (Garden City) for Class 6A. Area teams playing at Lakin in 3-2-1A are Holcomb, Lakin, Sublette and Syracuse along with Goodland, Hill City, Oakley and WaKeeney-Trego Community. In addition to host Ulysses, there will be Colby, Hugoton, Kingman, Nickerson, Pratt and Russell. At Southwind, there will be Garden City, Dodge City, Goddard, Maize, Wichita North, Wichita Northwest and Wichita South.
All state tournaments are scheduled for October 20 with 6A being held at Alvamar Public Golf Course in Lawrence, 5A at Salina Municipal, 4A at Cherry Oaks Golf Course in Cheney and the 3-2-1A site will be announced soon.
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