Editorial

Practice pays off for local young golfer

Friday, October 17, 2003

Blessed with a smooth, flowing natural golf swing, Katherine Morell of McCook has been poised for championship level play since her childhood years.

Tuesday, that potential was realized when Katherine shot a final round score of 75 to capture the Nebraska Class B individual girls' golf title.

Katherine's two-round total of 154 was two strokes better than the 156 posted by another western Nebraska standout, Brittanie Pepler of Scottsbluff.

The turning point came on the tenth hole when Katherine chipped in for a birdie, giving her a two on the par-three hole. Playing in the final group with Katherine and Meghan Place of Omaha Duquesne, Brittanie carded a bogey four on the tenth hole, giving Katherine the edge she needed to win the title.

"Just before the tenth hole, I told Katherine, 'You haven't chipped in all season,'" said McCook Bison girls golf coach Randy Ryser. Then, he added, "It's time all your practice paid off."

And -- as fate would have it -- it did. Looking back on Katherine's junior season, Coach Ryser said her increased practice time, especially on the short game, made the difference, elevating Katherine's game from competitive to championship caliber.

It wasn't apparent on the first few holes of Tuesday's final round, however. "Katherine struggled with her putter on the first five holes," said her uncle, Dan Stramel. "She had 13 putts in that stretch, including a four-putt," he said.

But she didn't let her early putting woes get her down, settling down for steady, solid play the rest of the way. "She hit just about every green in regulation," Stramel said.

Katherine's mother, Marcia Morell, said after the round, "It was a very exciting championship. Katherine worked very hard and put in a lot good practice time. There are a lot of good players in Class B. Of course, I'm biased, but, in my opinion, the best player won the title."

By capturing the championship, Katherine continued a recent run of titles by MHS golfers. Erin Gumb started the individual championship winning tradition in 1996 for the Bison. This was followed by two straight titles by Katherine's sister, Elizabeth, in 1998 and 1999. And now, McCook High School junior Katherine Morell has joined the championship ranks.

She will be back next year to defend the state Class B title. It won't be easy, with this year's runner-up also returning, but -- thanks to natural talent and a demanding practice schedule -- Katherine Morell has already proven she's a winner, and she will be going all-out to repeat in 2004.

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