Wind gusts of 40 miles per hour did not phase Purdy senior Rosa Schad at the Class 1 Girls State Golf tournament.
At Crown Point Golf Club in Farmington on Oct. 21-22, Schad —who took fourth in the Class 1, District 1 tournament at Payne Stewart Golf Course in Springfield — shot an 89 on Day 1 and 94 on Day 2 to finish tied for 15th place and become Purdy’s second-ever girls state golf medalist.
“She’s an All-State golfer,” said Lori Videmschek, Purdy golf coach. “Zoe (Brown) Keeler took fifth in 2005, so Rosa’s is the second name that will go up on that wall. This was a goal of hers all year, and it’s a pretty sweet way to end your senior year as a golfer.”
Schad, who finished in 25th place at state last year and had never played the Farmington course, had a practice round the day before the tournament. On Day 1, she shot the +17 with a couple birdie mixed in, landing her in 10th place going into Day 2.
“Day 1 was really nice conditions, but Day 2 was windy and brutal,” Videmschek said. “Wind gusts were at about 40 miles per hour and just played hectic with your ball. She finished 21-over to go +38 over two days on the par 72 course. She did really well, and I’m proud of her because it was not easy.”
Schad suffered a couple water shots and double bogeys, but when push came to shove, she held her ground.
“She really held her composure,” Videmschek said. “She’s quiet, and I could tell by her demeanor she wasn’t happy with it. I told her to just relax and not let one hole define her.
“When she came up to the last hole, she had to get par to stay in 15th, and she got it. She did a good job to stay ahead.”
Schad’s two-day total was a 183, and the winner of the tournament, Ash Grove’s Rylee Allred, shot a 151, which was 5 strokes clear of second place.
Videmschek said Schad, who recently lost her mother to an acute illness, showed great strength through the tournament.
“She had family from all sides there, and that was special for her,” Videmschek said. “I know her mom is looking down at her proud.”
Also competing at state for Purdy was Kierstn Postlewait, who shot a 129 on Day 1 but shaved off 11 strokes on Day 2 with a 118 to finish 89th overall in Class 1.
