The Jackson girls golf program began in 2018, and now the team is headed to the Class 2 State Tournament for the first time as the Indians placed second in the Class 2 Sectional 1 tournament.
Jackson did so with a score of 339 behind first place St. Joseph’s Academy, which finished with a score of 305 to win the tournament.
“That morning at breakfast we were talking and [the players] were like, ‘We are not going [to state] alone. We are going as a team,’” Jackson head coach Carrie Korbecki said. “They had the mindset, ‘We’re leaving no one behind.’ I think that level of confidence carried through the day.”
Coach Korbecki said her team’s game was not the best it has been all season long at sectionals, but Jackson still managed to have three golfers place in the top 15.
First was none other than sophomore Kaydi Rhodes tied for fourth place with a 76. Fellow sophomore Ella Overstreet also finished in the top 10 by tying for seventh place, scoring a 78.
The final Jackson golfer to place in the top 15 was senior Taryn Overstreet, who scored an 84 to finish 13 points over par to take 15th place. Sophomore Jacie Pattengill was the next top scorer for Jackson as she placed 38th overall with a score of 101.
The fifth and final score Jackson recorded, but did not use, was that of freshman Maggie Davey, who shot a 105 to take 43rd place.
“I was so nervous that day even though there probably wasn’t a chance for the other [four] teams to place,” Coach Korbecki said. “I still kept saying, ‘It’s not over till the last score is in.’ When we finally saw them put that highlight around our team total — we were all ecstatic.”
Ella Overstreet was the only Indian to compete as last year’s state tournament as she was the first player from the program to ever do so. As an individual, Ella placed 25th overall with a combined score of 170 by hitting an 85 on days one and two of the Class 2 tournament.
Ella’s older sister, Taryn, is also no stranger to the state tournament as she helped the Cape Notre Dame team win back-to-back state championships in 2016 and 2017. Taryn transferred to Jackson last season and was unable to play on the varsity level due to transfer rules.
Coach Korbecki knows the state experience the Korbecki sisters have will bode well for her team.
“I think the girls really look up to [Taryn], and they want to have that success she had while she was at Notre Dame,” Coach Korbecki said. “[This team] is confident they can place whether it’s in the top four or five. [Taryn] will be very helpful when we get to state to help calm the nerves and give them words of advice.”
