BIG RAPIDS – It was another top-10 finish to start the season for Cheboygan junior girls golfer Katie Maybank, who shot a 92 and tied for eighth place at the Lady Cardinal Invite held at the Katke Golf Course at Ferris State University on Friday.
“Katie hit the ball beautifully,” said Cheboygan coach Pete Maybank. “She’s been working on hitting long shots, her drivers, her long fairway woods and irons from the inside. She struck the ball beautifully but struggled with her (putter) a little bit, had a few more three-putts than we probably would’ve liked, but I guess the painting is on the wall. It’s one of those things where I feel like it’s all going to come together soon, and our ball striking is really good.”
Maybank’s display led the Chiefs (466), who finished eighth in a field that featured several strong teams.
As for overall improvement, the Chiefs saw it from junior Emerson Eustice, who posted a 118 during her round.
“Emerson Eustice improved from last week,” Maybank said. “She shot a 122 (at the Traverse City West Lady Titan Invitational), but she shot a 118 in this tournament, and she’s actually really coming into her own and starting to figure the game out. Emerson came from a softball background, so it took a lot for us to get her swing in order. The swings are very similar, the only difference is in softball you kind of keep your weight on the back, and in golf you want to transfer it to the front. She is starting to get a feel for that.”
Also playing for the Chiefs were Lilly Wright (127), Ella Kosanke (129) and Hallie Temple (146).
“Lilly Wright struggled a little bit, she’s kind of in transition right now,” Maybank said. “We’ve got a couple girls that are working on different things with their swings, but Lilly’s still moving in the right direction in terms of the things I see as far as future potential. Ella Kosanke, who had a rough start in our first tournament, improved by a couple shots, and Ella is in the middle of a major grip change. She was kind of hitting everything to the right, so we kind of strengthened her grip. Grip changes are one of the most difficult things to go through, but she’s definitely worked hard and tons of potential there. Hallie Temple shot the exact same number last week, no better, no worse, but she continues to work hard.
“It’s a good bunch of girls, and we finished in the top 10 in a very strong field. I think we’re not near the potential we could be, but good things are on the horizon.”
Grand Rapids Catholic Central (365) won the team title, while Grand Ledge (374) took second and Whitehall (425) was third.
GRCC’s Ava Wisinski’s 77 earned medalist honors on Friday.
Cheboygan heads to Petoskey to compete in the Bay View Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 1.