End of an era: Senior-laden Colonel Crawford seventh at D-II girls golf state tournament
COLUMBUS — Colonel Crawford coach Roni Halberg spent the last handful of holes walking with senior Lucy Myers during the final round of the Division II state golf tournament at the Ohio State University Gray Course.
Traditionally, Halberg has stayed away from Myers while she's on the course. But Saturday was different.
It was not only the last time she'd see the four-year varsity standout in an Eagles uniform, it was the last time she'd see her daughter play high school golf.
"We brought up this program the way we did … I've always had her in mind," Halberg said of Myers. "It's just a really tough day knowing that I just watched her play her last hole, and I'm glad everyone kind of understood. I got to walk those last few holes with her and this is just a memory that we're always going to have together. And having Marty (Myers) along for the ride, too.
"There's definitely bumps along the way when you're coaching your own kid, but it's gonna be a rough day or two."
Colonel Crawford shot a 737 to place seventh out of 12 teams at the state tournament — the program's best finish over this three-year stretch.
"We were hoping to get into the top half but we're definitely going to be content with seventh, especially under these conditions," Halberg said. "We're higher than we've been in the past, so we're very excited about that. A school our size, we're happy with where we are."
In the Eagles' first trip two years ago, they finished 12th. And last season they improved their placing to 11th with a 797. Shaving 60 strokes off despite brutal conditions Saturday was pretty remarkable considering they came into the day sitting ninth after Day 1.
"We've never backed off a practice in weather like this," Halberg said. "It definitely impacts the game … but we knew it was gonna happen and they just came prepared. In the past, I've told them you just have to get to a point where you accept that you're gonna be wet, you're going to be cold, it's going to be windy. You have to adjust, and that's why I'm just so proud they have that strength to do that.
"And shout out to Mike Stuckman because he always gave me a hard time when I made them practice in the rain at Valley View. This is why we do it, because we get these conditions."
It was the final round for Myers, Lexi Rush, Ayla McKibben and Claire Lehman. And they all managed to improve dramatically from last year's scoring. Myers shot a 179 (88-91) which was three strokes better than her junior year, Lexi Rush carded 181 (88-93) dropping 31 strokes, Lehman a 193 (97-96) for a 29-stroke improvement, and McKibben 202 (94-108) which was 11 better than her first trip.
And as much as it'll hurt not being able to coach Myers anymore, this senior class as a whole meant so much to Halberg.
"When we were approaching our last hole, we heard applause up on the green and Lucy looked at me and said 'That was A, A just finished.' And both of us started tearing up because Ayla's been here just as long as Lucy has been golfing," Halberg said. "Those two struggled the most throughout the day, and a lot of people would say 'Oh, they're experienced. How are they struggling so much?' But they've built this and they've been such an integral part of us being here three years in a row.
"I think they put so much pressure on themselves and I will tell these girls today before we all depart that I couldn't be more proud of what they've done. They just kept going … and it's thanks to Lucy and Ayla that we do have more people that are playing. They helped get the interest, they helped build it up. They are so, so huge with the foundation."
Lehman and Rush had breakout seasons as juniors and were equally as important the past two seasons for the Eagles.
"Lexi golfed some of her best golf here," Halberg said. "I think she even said 'Why did it take me until the very last tournament of the of the year to learn how to golf?' She did pick it up really fast, so you know that's where it's super exciting.
"And Claire, I've said from Day 1, she's my calmest golfer of the group. Walking the rest of the holes with just Lucy, Claire's said she was good the whole day. And I knew (she was) … I had my spies out there making sure everyone was OK. She said 'Coach, you do what you have to do.' And that's been clear the whole time. She's just such a good mediator on the team and it's just a leadership of a different kind."
Junior Madison Gray rebounded from a tough Friday to shoot the team-low on Saturday, finishing the weekend with a 189 (99-90). Last season she tagged along as an alternate and got to soak in the state atmosphere without any of the pressure — just as McKibben did in 2021. This year it was sophomore Rylie Hoepf as the alternate.
"It helped a lot with my nerves," Gray said. "I knew the course well and I knew what to expect, like the rough being thick. I was more prepared.
"Next year I might have to be here by myself. So, in order for me to do that, I've got to know the course and it was a big, big step for me."
Gray said she had a heart-to-heart with herself before Saturday's round. And it's a good thing, too, because another 99 would've seen the Eagles move from seventh overall to ninth.
"I told myself that I just needed to do it for my team and that I needed to focus," Gray said. "I can't do anything about (Friday), today was a new day."
And even though her career isn't over, Gray couldn't help but shed a tear with her teammates afterwards. Thinking back on the best thing the seniors collectively taught her, it was some simple advice but very important for the game of golf.
"They've taught me to push through everything that I struggle with and that it's OK to hit a bad shot," Gray said. "If I hit one, it's OK, just hit a good one after that."
419-617-6018
Twitter/X: @Zachary_Holden
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Colonel Crawford girls seventh at Division II state golf tournament
