Bison golfer becomes first to state this year

McCook senior Kaylie Puckett tees off on Hole No. 11 during B-4 district play at Heritage Hills Golf Course on Monday. Puckett earned her trip to next week's Class B state tournament.

Courtesy photo

McCOOK, Neb. — Her final three holes topped every B-4 district golfer except one on Monday.

That’s why a great trivia question to test all McCook High alums in 50 years or so arrived Monday afternoon:

Who was the first Bison state tournament sports qualifier during 2020-21?

McCook sophomore Sophie Williams (above) aims for the green during her first B-4 district golf tourney while classmate Chayse Frieze (below) putted her way into a Top 15 finish at Heritage Hills on Monday.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

The name sounds a lot like late great Minnesota Twins outfield Kirby Puckett with his World Series walk-off home run in 1991.

This Bison had her own swing working great on a warm October Monday, and she walked off to every prep golfer’s major goal:

McCook senior Kaylie Puckett will be competing at Class B state next week.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Puckett shot 4, 3 and 4 on the final three holes which matched B-4 district champ Anna Kelley from Scottsbluff (77) on Monday.

No other golfer finished stronger than Bearcat fourth-place finisher Emily Krzyzanowski (3-3-3).

Puckett placed seventh overall with her round of 96 — plenty good enough to reach her first Class B state tournament. She’ll join Class B’s best in teeing off at 9 a.m. on Monday at Monument Shadows Golf Course in Gering.

As a team, McCook’s 432 was only five strokes from catching state qualifier Alliance (427) on what was certainly a challenging B-4 district course.

Puckett started rough, firing a dreaded 6-6-6 on her first three holes followed by another 6 and 7 on her fifth hole.

However, she only shot higher than five on three of those remaining 13 holes.

Lexington’s Zoey Salem was only stroke behind Puckett when they started the final three holes. Yet Salem would fall back to 99 and finish four places behind K.P.

Scottsbluff (325) swept to the team title by 96 strokes over runner-up Gering (421). Those top three teams will send their entire lineups to Class B state.

Bison sophomore Chayse Friehe earned a solid Top 15 finish (106) among 37 golfers at Heritage Hills.

Joslyn Dwyer shot 112 for 21st overall and Janessa Dwyer totaled 121 to reach 27th place.

Both Dwyers made the final three holes their best of the tournament.

Sophomore Sophie Williams also conquered the Heritage Hills course (142) to cap her first season on McCook’s varsity team.

Williams showed the toughness of a pole vaulter which she plans on competing in next spring. She shot 4 on her 16th hole immediately after a tough 10 and 13.

Team race: 1. Scottsbluff 325, 2. Gering 421, 3. Alliance 427, 4. Chadron 428, 5. McCook 432, 6. Lexington 434, 7. Holdrege 476.

Top 10 placers/Class B state qualifers: 1. Anna Kelley, SCOT, 77; 2. Madilyne Schlaepfer, GER, 79; 3. Emily Krzyzanowski, SCOT, 79; 4. Nielli Heinold, SCOT, 81; 5. Hallie Shaddick, SCOT, 88; 6. Haley Holzworth, SCOT, 93; 7. Kaylie Puckett, MC, 93; 8. Madeline Pelton, CHAD, 93; 9. Julia Wilson, ALL, 96; 10. Tayber Meyer, GER, 98.