Kahok Girls Golf First To Compete Post-COVID-19 Shutdown

By Mark Jurgena

Last Thursday the Collinsville High School girls golf team was the first at the school to jump  back into competition after the COVID-19 shutdown when they traveled to Rolling Hills Golf Club in Godfrey for a triangular meet with Alton and Belleville East.

The Kahoks finished 13 shots off the pace set by Alton’s 182 score. East beat CHS by a mere three strokes.

“I think we underachieved a little bit at the Alton match,” said coach Steve Schneider. “I think we could’ve had a little bit better scores. That being said it was the first match and there’s a little bit of nerves there.”

Ricki Merlak recorded the low score for the Kahoks on the day with a ten over par 46. Maya Clark shot a 48 while Abby Fister and freshman Kiley Belobraydic both fired a 50. Belobraydic was in her initial match of her high school career.

Natalie Messenger of Alton was the medalist with a 39.

This past Saturday, CHS took part in the Alton Scramble/Shamble again at Rolling Hills.

As a team the Kahoks finished 5th in the field with a total score of 249 in the two-person team scramble.

Edwardsville and O’Fallon each shot a 207 to tie for the team title.

Merlak and Clark combined to fire a 78 on the day. That tied them for 6th overall in the event.

Nicole Johnson and Grace Daech of Edwardsville won the scramble title by combining to shoot a 64.

Fister and Belobraydic combined to shoot an 81.

“With the Scramble/Shamble that’s a fun event, it kicks off the year,” Schneider said. “We were able to bring ten kids which was nice to have ten kids get out and compete and get a feel for the ins and outs of tournaments and matches. Overall it was a pretty good week though.”

The girls golf squad was at The Legacy Golf Course in Granite City on Tuesday for the annual Madison County Tournament. Results were unavailable at press time. They continue their week with the Belleville West Invite at The Orchards in Belleville tomorrow.