Arlington High School golfers played the last 18 holes of their year Oct. 4 at Quail Run in Columbus.
Coach Cailyn Johnson's Eagles finished 11th during the Class C-2 District Tournament, which was pushed back a day by rain. It was then delayed an hour on Oct. 4 as course staff cleared storm damage.
When the event was completed, though, Columbus Scotus, Oakland-Craig and Fullerton qualified for the NSAA State Championships with top-three team finishes. The first-place Shamrocks' Cecilia Arndt produced the overall low score, finishing with just 74 strokes across 18 holes.
Aspen Smutz, meanwhile, led AHS with 132 swings. She carded 70 strokes on hole Nos. 10-18 first before finishing with just 62 swings across the front nine.
The Eagles' Sarah Rhea teed off on No. 1 and finished with 137 strokes overall. While her underclassmen teammates may return with eligibility in 2024, the C-2 District Tourney was the lone senior's last.
“Sarah has been an inspiration to everyone on the team, including the coach,” Johnson wrote after her team's final event of the fall. “She has helped me with general golf meet information and with her leadership skills to entrust teaching the rules to younger players.”
The coach continued.
“(Rhea) has provided so much support for her teammates over the years,” she said. “From telling them that mistakes are OK, to giving golf-themed gift bags from her family to boost confidence and build a positive culture.”
Bella Wilcox also golfed Quail Run for Arlington on Oct. 4, finishing with 156 swings. Ally Meyer added 158 strokes and Honora Andreasen had 160.
CLASS C-2 DISTRICT GOLF TOURNAMENT
Oct. 4 at Quail Run, Columbus
Team standings (top 3 qualify for state): Columbus Scotus 363 strokes, Oakland-Craig 412, Fullerton 421, Albion Boone Central 450, Shelby-Rising City 474, Omaha Concordia 478, Fremont Bergan 481, Central City 497, Clarkson/Leigh 508, West Point-Beemer 510, Arlington 583, Cedar Bluffs NA, Omaha Brownell-Talbot NA, Omaha Roncalli NA, Wahoo NA.
Individual state qualifiers: 1, Cecilia Arndt, Scotus, 74 strokes. 2, Quinn VunCannon, Scotus, 89. 3, Taylor Beierman, Boone Central, 94. 4, Emma Anderson, Oakland, 95. 5, Kara Selken, Oakland, 96. 6, Keila Dubas, Fullerton, 98. 7, Kiya Taylor, Scotus, 99. 8, Kaitlyn Fleming, Scotus, 101. 9, Ellie Sendgraff, Bergan, 102. 10, tie, Melinda Pickrel, Fullerton, and Valerie Lierman, Oakland, 103.
Arlington results: Aspen Smutz 132, Sarah Rhea 137, Bella Wilcox 156, Ally Meyer 158, Honora Andreasen 160.
