COLUMN: Reaching regionals a stepping stone for a sophomore

Friday, September 27, 2013

First off, I would like to congratulate Harlee Fuetter for advancing from sectionals to regionals this past weekend.

Regionals will be Saturday at Smock Golf Course in Greenwood, and she tees off at 9:45 from the 10th tee for anyone who would like to go cheer on a player who will be representing Putnam County.

It is such an honor to be able to go play at regionals, and just like Harlee, my first time advancing was my sophomore year.

That experience was actually what made me start taking golf seriously because I finally realized that this sport was something that I might be able to do something with.

For the first year at regionals, you just want to take it all in. Be happy for the opportunity and proud of yourself for making it there. Looking back over my four years, you can use each year as steppingstones.

Freshman year, you get your first taste of this next level of competition and may not advance to regionals, but you get a feel for the kind of tournament play.

It is a new type of pressure because each stage you reach, you are really focused on the next thing ... which is the worst thing you could do. You should instead be trying to do your best to just shoot a decent score and, again, get a feel for this level just like you had to do with sectionals your first year.

If you are too focused on trying to advance to state, you will probably succumb to an unnecessary pressure.

I had too much of that on my mind my first two years at regionals, causing me not to advance to state until my senior year.

If you have a bad hole, the best thing to remember is that everyone on that course is likely to have a bad hole as well and the only thing that matters is what you do right after the hiccup on the scorecard. It will only determine your fate if you let it affect your play.

I didn't play well my sophomore year, but the best thing to remember is there is still another chance. You can't freak yourself out; it truly is a great experience and so exciting to get the opportunity, especially because it is something you have earned.

As for Harlee, I wish you the best of luck at regionals. Take it all in, and if you advance to state, that is absolutely wonderful; if you don't then you will know what you need to work on for next year and use it as motivation to just get that much better. Don't forget to have fun and just play your game.

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