As one of three individual girls golf state qualifiers, sophomore Bailee Flaming realizes that her constant practice has allowed her to step into a higher ranked playing position.

“This is my first year on varsity,” Flaming said. “I played more than I ever had over the summer. I actually started listening to my coach and cared a little bit more.”

After what she thought to be a rough game day at regionals on Monday, Oct. 10, Flaming later found out that she ranked 10th out of 33 players at the end of play. She shot a 102 that day, the best on the team and earning her a medal.

This position will send her to play in state on Oct. 17 in Hays, Kan., along with juniors Hadley Tharp and Hanna Torline.

Flaming has yet to feel the pregame jitters set in.

“Right now, I haven’t really processed that I’m going to state. I wasn’t nervous for regionals until I hit my first drive during the first hole,” Flaming said. “I assume that’s how it will be at state. I might get a little nervous on the way down there, but hopefully it won’t be too bad.”

As the season winds down, Flaming knows what insight to her own game will help her succeed at state.

“I take golf seriously, but not too seriously. When I think about golfing too much, that’s when I stop doing well. I will concentrate on having fun more so than getting perfect scores and thinking about everything I need to do,” Flaming said. “I always think of the positives I’m doing the right way, because if I just think of the negatives, it’ll mess with my game because golf is such a mental game.”

By Alana Flinn, reporter