Morgan Nute came into the Class 2, District 1 girls golf tournament with two simple goals: have fun and qualify for state.
She did both.
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Morgan Nute came into the Class 2, District 1 girls golf tournament with two simple goals: have fun and qualify for state.
She did both.
Nute became a two-time district champion and punched her ticket to the state tournament after shooting a score of 1-over-72 on the par-71 Wolf Hollow Golf Club on Oct. 9.
“I was really just trying to not even think about the golf and just play and have fun,” the Wright City junior said. “I didn’t care too much about what I shot because I just wanted to play well and qualify since state is the more important thing.”
This will be Nute’s third consecutive trip to the state tournament. She placed fourth as a freshman and third the following year.
“I now know what to expect (at state), so I’m just going to practice these next couple of weeks and focus on that,” Nute said.
While Nute had a relaxed head space, her game was anything but. Nute started tournament play with two pars before following that up with three consecutive birdies.
“I was in a good mindset and a good mood, so I kept firing birdies,” she said.
Wright City coach Stephen McClain noted Nute’s ability to take risks worked in her favor.
“She was taking some of the craziest shots I’ve ever seen in my life,” McClain said. “She hit one where we looked for the ball for probably two minutes and we finally found it 10 feet from the pin – it was insane. She had another shot where she had a blind shot over this hump where she couldn’t see the pin. She hit it with her four iron and it was maybe 10 feet from the pin.”
As Nute gets ready for the state tournament, which will be played on Oct. 20-21 at Meadow Lake Acres Country Club, she will be busy with practice and preparation.
“I’m going to be practicing every day,” Nute said. “When we go play the practice round, we’ll take a lot of notes and have them ready for when I play the first day.”
Nute added her goals are to shoot a low score and turn in a stronger showing than last year’s state tournament.
“I definitely feel more comfortable. I’ve improved a lot this year from last year,” Nute said.
McClain agreed, adding, “I want her to play her best game and play smart golf.”
Nute’s hardworking nature has allowed for her to steadily progress throughout the season, according to McClain.
“She’s playing the best golf she’s ever played and it really has to do with her work ethic,” McClain said.
The Wildcats placed 11th with a 479 at the district tournament. Senior Abby Schanuel finished 26th with a score of 111, Alexa Robertson came in 61st with a 150, Emma-Dixie Dietrich placed 58th with a 146 and Chariss Riggs was 62nd with a 154.
“(Schanuel) should be super proud of herself, (Robertson) took huge strides, (Riggs) never played golf in her life and got a par at districts and (Dietrich) took everything we worked on and put it into play,” McClain said.
