Not being able to finish something you have worked so hard to get to is alway a disappointment, but not being able to finish because of the weather is something you can't prepare yourself for. The MacArthur High School (MHS) girls golf team had that experience when the OSSAA 5A State Tournament was cut short due to rain.
The tournament, held at Lincoln Park Golf Course, was scheduled to be a 36-hole event, allowing teams to build off of their day-1 scores and look to improve in the second round. The first round went off without a hitch on May 5, but, unfortunately, the following day was one of many days in early May when the state of Oklahoma was covered in rain, leading to the second round to be canceled and the first round scores being final.
MacArthur qualified for the State Tournament by finishing third at the 5A Regional, held at Oak Hills Golf Course in Ada. They finished the tournament with a team score of 373, behind Duncan and Ada. A pair of Highlanders finished inside the top-5 individually. Junior Kenli Wade placed fourth with an 86 and senior Jaycee Richard was a stroke back in fifth place. Sophomore Alejandra Median Rey came in 11th with a score of 95, while sophomore Hallie Pooschke shot 105 and senior Carleigh Duffy recorded a 117 at the regional.
The Lady Highlanders opened the State Tournament with their lowest team score of the season, shooting a 363. With the canceled second round they finished in sixth place, behind State Champion Duncan, Carl Albert, Ada, Bishop McGuiness and Bishop Kelly. Wade followed up her fourth place regional finish by placing fourth at the State Tournament as she was sitting at just eight over after the opening round. Richard added an 87, good for 15th individually and Median Rey added a 91 to finish in a tie for 25th. Additionally, Duffy was at 33 over par when the tournament ended and Pooschke was at plus-35.
“It was bittersweet for the State Tournament to end the way it did,” said MHS head golf coach Michael Pooschke. “We had one of our best team rounds of the season and I feel like we could have made up some ground on day two. I am very proud of the girls and how they fought all year. We will definitely miss our senior class, but we have a lot coming back and, with the experience we gained this season, I am excited to get back at it next spring.”
With three of their five qualifiers returning next season and some promising young players coming up, the Lady Highlanders are primed to return to the OSSAA State Tournament in 2026.