Barrett birdies on senior night, Cameron breaks record to lead Lady Tigers

Friday, October 8, 2021
Nevada High School senior Libby Barrett swings for the green during senior night against Stockton and McDonald County Thursday afternoon at Frank E. Peters Golf Course.
Photo by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

Nevada High School freshman Emree Cameron found her putting stroke at just the right time, and NHS senior Libby Barrett picked the perfect day to shoot her first birdie, as the Lady Tigers made the most of their final meet of the regular season Thursday afternoon at Frank E. Peters Golf Course.

After two days of working on her putting mechanics, Cameron dazzled on the back-nine greens, birdieing six holes — highlighted by a 30-foot putt on the par-4 no. 15 and then a 20-footer on the par-4 no. 16 — en route to a new MSHSAA record score of 30 for a par-36 round, an individual victory by 22 strokes, and a team win (194) over visiting McDonald County (224) and Stockton.

“I feel really good about going into districts now. I feel so much better with my putting,” said Cameron, who nearly had another birdie on the par-4 no. 13 but her 10-foot putt lipped out. “I know that these records might not stand because I will eventually break my own records.”

Cameron was not the only Lady Tigers to bury a birdie on the day.

Barrett celebrated senior night by sinking a 10-foot putt for her first-ever birdie on the par-4 no. 12, which was witnessed by one of her best friends, fellow senior Katie Pennington — the two of whom got to play together in the same group for the occasion.

“I jumped up and down and nearly fell over,” said Barrett of her birdie, which helped her finish with a 57. “Katie and I have been friends for 14 years, and we’ve always been goofballs together. Golf was another way that we could hang out after school. It was just really fun to end our senior year playing together.”

Nevada High School senior Katie Pennington swings during senior night on Thursday.
Photos by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

Pennington had the second-best round of the day, returning to the clubhouse with a 49.

“I got to play with Libby, so I just relaxed and had fun,” Pennington said. “We’ve been best friends all our lives. I was really happy for her.”

NHS head coach Brian Leonard — who also saw junior Riley Severance shoot a 58 and sophomore Paige Hertzberg an even 60 — has also known Barrett since she was a kid and was happy she got her first birdie on senior night.

“It’s a special night. I’m glad she did that,” he said. “Both of them have been two of my seniors who I’ve really gone through all four years with. It’s been kind of emotional.”

NHS freshman Emree Cameron chips onto the green during her record-breaking round of 30 (-6) Thursday at Frank E. Peters Golf Course.
Photo by Hank Layton | Daily Mail Sports Reporter

As for Cameron’s record-breaking round:

“I knew it was coming. I knew it was going to be low. But I’m thinking, that’s pretty low.”

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