Girls golf team has goals set high

Saturday, August 20, 2011

JASON PEAKE

Daily Mail Sports Editor

NEVADA -- The 2010 season was a stellar one for the Nevada High School girls golf team.

And now, as the 2011 season arrives, Coach Brian Leonard hopes for a repeat performance.

A year ago, the Tigers won a district championship at Marshfield and finished third at the Bolivar Sectional.

That's not all.

Two individuals qualified for state a year ago, as Mariah Jones and Emmaly Ellis competed against the state's best in Springfield.

"We had a pretty good season overall," Leonard said this week.

As far as the state qualifiers, Jones was a senior, but Ellis was just a sophomore.

Now set to begin her junior season, Ellis is expected to lead the way for the Tigers this fall.

"She is hitting shots that a lot of the other girls on the team are struggling with," Leonard said on Wednesday. "Emmaly is a very consistent player. We're working on her short game now. She can hit the driver a ton and her putting is okay. She's working hard on her game, and I think she'll have a solid season."

Leonard said Ellis gained valuable experience at state last year, finishing in the top 30.

"Her first day at state didn't go so well, but she came back and played pretty well the second day," he noted.

Ellis isn't the only Tiger with experience on the golf course.

Two seniors, Morgan Turner and Myra Ornelas, also return with several years of varsity experience.

"They've both been working really hard this summer," Leonard said. "They were out on the course consistently. They really want to go to state this year. They've gotten so close before. I would really like to see them advance this year.''

Leonard noted that Ellis, Turner and Ornelas should all have solid seasons.

Next, sophomore Karly Hold also returns for the Tigers. And Leonard feels Hold is another player who could make a nice contribution to the team this fall.

"Just from watching her, I can tell she's been working on her game," Leonard said.

In addition to the four returning letterwinners, Leonard has five freshmen on the roster this season.

Hannah Householder, Blayne Hendrix, Maddie Johnson, Jenny Mosbrucker and Danielle Smith have joined the team this fall.

Leonard said the freshmen will gain valuable course experience this season.

Nevada begins the season next Tuesday at Carthage.

The team will host an invite on Friday the 26th at Frank E. Peters Golf Course beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Tigers will host Joplin, Carthage, Carl Junction, Seneca, and Galena at the event. And as the season arrives, Leonard and the Tigers hope to equal, if not surpass, last year's success.

"I think the girls are ready to go," Leonard said. "I'm curious to see how they're going to do. And I'd love to see us take five girls to state."

2011 Girls golf roster

Seniors -- Morgan Turner, Myra Ornelas.

Junior -- Emmaly Ellis.

Sophomore -- Karly Hold.

Freshmen -- Hannah Householder, Blayne Hendrix, Maddie Johnson, Jenny Musbrucker, Danielle Smith.

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