There have been some exciting things happening lately in the Lewis Cass ladies’ golf world! This past Saturday, September 21, 2024, the Lady Kings Girls’ Golf team competed in the sectionals at Chippendale Golf Club in Kokomo, IN. Although the team may not have made it out as a group as they would have liked to, junior Alisha Toops made the cut and is moving on to regionals! On the day of the sectional, Alisha shot a 99, with the following team members, Maddy Willis, 108, Alexis Collins, 119, Aaryah Coffman, 133, and Heidi Frey, 138. The team came out with a 459. To make it out of sectional, the top three teams with the lowest score make it, and the top three individuals, unattached, which means they cannot be on the top three teams. Alisha was the third qualifier!
The 2024 regionals will be held at BattleGround Golf Club on Saturday, September 28. The nerves are very high for this upcoming weekend. Alisha Toops was asked how she feels about qualifying for regionals as a junior. Her response was “Qualifying is one of the greatest feelings especially as a junior and watching one of our seniors last year (Kendal Hlebasko) lose in a playoff. I was just hoping to not have another one of those.” If for some reason a golfer were to score the same as someone else and you are eligible to qualify, you have a sudden death playoff hole and whoever scores the lowest on that hole, advances to regionals. After finding out Toops qualified for regionals, she has been practicing more than ever. Alisha was asked how she would be preparing for regionals. She said, “I will be preparing by going to the golf course every day until Saturday and work with Mrs. Densborn, and on Wednesday have a practice round to see how the course looks and what clubs I need to work on.”
As the week comes closer and closer to the end, Toops will continue to mentally and physically prepare for this big competition. Throughout the season, Alisha has had to overcome many challenges and obstacles to be where she is now. When asked about what she thinks will be her biggest obstacle in the regional, Toops said, “My biggest challenge will be my headspace because when I was at conference this year I got so in my head and shot 23 strokes over what I shot at sectionals, to get me to the position that I am in.” The mental aspect of golf is very important and focusing on how you need to hit the ball, which club to use, and where you need to hit the ball is very important in order to succeed.
Throughout all of the practices and matches, Coach Amy Densborn has stayed optimistic. Even when a match did not turn out the way the team intended it to, Densborn stayed positive, and assured the team that they would improve as time went on. Having a golfer advance to regionals is a huge deal and is very exciting. Coach Amy Densborn was asked about how she felt knowing one of her golfers made it to regionals, she said, “I am extremely happy and excited for Alisha. The goal at the end of the season is to continue on and keep playing. When we can play another match that is always a good day. We had a great day of practice yesterday, I love seeing an athlete strive to be the best they can be at their sport.” Practice is so important if you strive to succeed in a sport. You have to work to improve on things you may not be the best at. Alisha has been playing since her freshman year, but Densborn has only been head coach for two years. Coach was asked about Alisha’s improvement over the past few seasons. Densborn says, “Alisha has improved tremendously from last season. Last year she was unable to shoot in the forties. This season she has had many matches in the forties and has dipped in the thirties. Alisha’s putting also has improved enormously, especially the last half of the season.”
Optimism is important in a sport that is mentally challenging. When asked about her hopes, Densborn mentions, “My first concern is the weather. I am hoping the rain will stay at bay. Secondly, I hope Alisha will focus on her game and play her best round of golf. Alisha is a long ball hitter, off the tee box will not pose a problem for her, around the green is where the focus needs to be. I have all the confidence that Alisha can make it to state if she focuses on the “little” things- chipping and putting.” In golf, even what may be the shortest or littlest shots are the most important. Not many girls from Lewis Cass have made it to the regional in the past few years. “Jessica Layman and Olivia Salyers are the only two girls that I am aware of to make it out of sectionals. Last year Kendal Hlebasko lost in a tie-breaker at Sectional to make it out.” Coach Densborn said, “We have a young team; my goal is to make it out as a team next year. Sophomore, Maddy Willis, has played great golf all season and came up a little short last Friday. I fully expect good things for her next year. It will be nice having Alisha and Maddy’s leadership next year.”
As Alisha Toops continues to prepare, she will be encouraged by the team and the school. Representing a smaller school at such a large competition is very important. All of Lewis Cass is hoping for an amazing turnout this weekend at the 2024 regionals at Battleground Golf Course, tee time of around 10:30 am. Best of luck Alisha!
