Savannah's Gallagher wins state golf title

St. Joseph News-Press

Savannah sophomore Kate Gallagher didn't head down to the state golf tournament with expectations of a championship.

"Not by any means was I looking to win state," she said. "I knew I could shoot a lot better than last year when I finished 11th, but I just wanted to improve. I was hoping for top 10."

Gallagher exceeded all expectations, shooting an even-par 72 on Monday and a 1-over 73 on Tuesday at Island Green Golf Course in Republic, Mo. Her 145 total gave her a seven-stroke advantage in Class 1 over her next-nearest competitor, Sky Seo of Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, a private institution in St. Louis.

"To shoot that at the state level on back-to-back days, that's outstanding," said Gallagher's coach, Tammy Steinkamp. "To keep it together for two days was exciting. It was exciting just to watch her play."

The whole Savannah team made a statement, too. The Savages' team score of 752 gave them a fifth-place finish and was just five strokes off third-place Kirksville. Pembroke Hill won the team score with 665 (plus-89).

The Savages other two sophomores, Megan Koch and Erica Burkert, shot a 193 and 204, respectively. Freshman Anna Hurst finished at 210.

"I saw a lot of great drives," Steinkamp said. "The short game was challenging, though. The greens down here are tough."

Gallagher said the whole team, with all sophomores and freshmen, already is excited about next year.

"Now that they have experience, they won't be so nervous. I know I played better this year because I wasn't so nervous," she said. "Now we know what we can do. Hopefully we'll come back and do even better."

The highlight of the tournament for Gallagher was hole No. 12, a par 3.

"I stuck my pitching wedge to a foot and a half within the hole," she said of the birdie.

No. 11 provided the other extreme - both days. The hole doglegged, starting out 150 yards straight then 150 yards to the right.

"I double-bogied it the first day. Today, my drive was bad; my second shot was worse," she said. "I scrounged for a bogie."

Trenton's team also had a great two days at the Class 1 tournament. As a team, Trenton shot 751 for a fourth-place finish. Sophomore Hadley Jennings led Trenton with a 17th place finish at 172.

In individual scores, Cameron's Megan Chaney turned in a 165, which earned her 11th place in Class 1. Abbey Miles of Mound City finished 14th with a 167, Tarkio's Olivia Hawkins at 21st with 175 and Kim Harding of Worth County scored a 25th-place finish with a 180.

Central, meanwhile, competed in the Class 2 tournament at Silo Ridge Golf & Country Club in Bolivar, Mo. The Indians finished 11th with a team score of 785.

Notre Dame de Sion won Class 2 with a 661 (plus-85).

Three of the Indians recorded an identical two-day score of 192: Sarah Campbell, Kaitlin Ericson and Britni Nikes. Kelsie Minear had a 209, and Jessica Farrell finished at 227 to round out Central's team.