Staff report
MONROE — The 5A State Championships for girls golf were held at Stonebridge in Monroe, but for the Mustangs it felt more like a trip to the North Pole.
“Windy, wet and cold is a crazy trifecta for golf,” East coach Tinsley Merrell said. “We tried to keep the spirits up.”
There was a field of 46 girls braving the course as well as the elements — the three teams, including East, that qualified via the West Regional, three teams that qualified via the East Regional, plus some qualifying individuals who weren’t on those six teams.
Three teams were able to play 18 holes on Monday, but East could only slog through nine in relentless rain before being pulled off the course. The East girls had late tee times. None of them teed off before 11 a.m.
“Chilly and wet, so we were super-proud of them for trudging through,” Merrell said.
Scheduled for 36 holes, the tournament was eventually shortened to 27. East was on the course at 9 a.m. and played 18 on Tuesday.
“We fought for nine holes, then nine more, and then we were told to fight for nine more,” Merrell said. “But they did it. Not the type of experience we were hoping for, but something good can always be learned from it.”
The Mustangs love golf, but they never have been happier to see a round end.
Kaley Pfister shot 46 on Monday and 93 on Tuesday for a 139 total. She finished 15th. Cailey Ludwig shot 48 and 95 for a 143 total. She was 19th. Jaelyn Earnhardt shot 54 and 100 for a 154 total. Izzy Stepp shot 55 and 110 for 165, and Ashlyn Pfister shot 61 and 113 for 174.
Merrell had hoped East could finish in the top three or four, but with a 436 team score, East placed fifth in the team scoring behind state champ South Point, East Lincoln, Fike and Croatan and ahead of West Carteret.
Four of the five Mustangs are seniors, but they went out with a stellar season, winning South Piedmont Conference and Rowan County championships. Merrell already has announced she’ll be stepping down, so it will be the end of an era.
“Great season, great kids, and it’s been a great five years of East Rowan golf,” Merrell said.
