Since Jonas Billingsley took over as the Daviess County golf head coach four years ago, the program has experienced nothing but winning. They have won four consecutive region titles and recently finished second at semi-state – qualifying them for the state finals for a third straight year.
A year ago, the Lady Panthers overcame the rainy conditions to finish fifth at the state finals, and this season, Billingsley believes his team has what it takes to win their first-ever state championship.
“I’ll take our region score for two days and see what happens from there,” Billingsley said. “302 for two straight days, I would take that chance of winning the state title. Now, will it take more? There are teams capable of doing it, but we are also capable of shooting under 300. We just have to show up and do it.”
His players echoed his sentiments.
“I’m really excited. I have hoped for this,” Baylie Billingsley said. “We proved ourselves at region, and we know we can score low, so I think we can place if we work really hard. We need to make smart decisions out there and just stay in the moment.”
At some point this season, Daviess County has played against most of the remaining teams and will be in an opening group with Bowling Green and Marshall County. Finishing second at semi-state, the Lady Panthers beat Marshall County by three strokes, but lost to Bowling Green by two strokes – making for a competitive first day.
“At semi-state, we kind of fell short a little bit, but I think we have a chance of beating Bowling Green and some of the other schools that will be there,” senior Claire Reynolds said. “It will be good if we can get a couple of girls to shoot in the 70s for the state tournament.”
But it won’t just be the top teams that Daviess County will be up against, but also the course itself. Known for playing fast, the Bowling Green County Club greens are a challenge in themselves.
“A lot of girls feel like they aren’t used to it because we don’t play a lot of fast and hard greens,” Reynolds said. “It’s kind of an adjustment. But once you kind of figure it out, it’s kind of simple if you can work your way around it. You have to think more there than you would anywhere else, so if you can outthink a bunch of girls, then I think you have a higher advantage.”
While the team has its eyes on a state title, they are also hoping to land on the podium as individuals. Last year, Reynolds finished seventh and is hoping to build on that, while Baylie Billingsley yearns to place.
The two seniors acknowledged that it is bittersweet arriving at the state finals for their final time, stating that the emotions won’t hit them until after the tournament.
“The nerves will be out the window, but maybe by the end of the second day, they might kick in,” Baylie Billingsley said. “Like, ‘wow, this is my last shot ever” or something like that. But I am excited, and I am happy with our team. I think we have a solid lineup, and I am proud of us and how far we have come.”
While the state finals are nothing new to them, for freshman Briley Billingsley, this is her second appearance, while eighth grader Kennedi Minton will be making her debut on the biggest stage.
A two-day tournament, the teams will tee off later this morning at 8 am via a shotgun start, and live updates can be found here.
