KHS has ‘Career Day’ at KGC

On just her second hole of the day, Katey Brickman sailed her drive from the No. 4 tee box to the right and out of bounds at Kingfisher Golf Course.

However, Brickman didn’t let that dictate the rest of her day.

The senior was one of four Kingfisher High School golfers to shoot career-best rounds Tuesday as the Lady Jackets won their Class 4A regional by 40 strokes.

Brickman carded an 89 to place her fourth individually. She helped lead Kingfisher to a team score of 339, easily beating second-place Cushing and instantly qualifying the team for this week’s state tournament.

“It feels amazing to be able to have such an impact on the team score,” said Brickman, “especially now that the season is coming to an end with only state left.”

Brickman was playing in a postseason tournament for the first time.

She wasn’t a part of Kingfisher’s top-five in 2019 when the team won a regional and placed fourth at the state tournament.

Her junior season was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19.

After the rocky start Tuesday, Brickman settled in.

“I was able to shake that hole off and not let that affect the rest of my game,” she said. “Golf is a very mentally-challenging sport and I was proud of myself for not letting a few bad holes stop me from playing my best round so far.”

She said her driver wasn’t being kind to her, “but my hybrid and irons were on point.”

They helped her keep churning out low scores hole after hole, although she wasn’t processing at the time how good her round was going.

“I honestly didn’t think about my score too much,” she said. “So I was just as surprised as everyone else when I found out I shot an 89.”

“To see her break 90 was so exciting,” said KHS golf coach Audra Smalley.”

Most of her teammates were right there with her.

Olivia Wilcox and Kari Shepard both turned in 90s. Kylie Hood shot an 91.

The scores were all career bests.

“Legitimately, they all three could have broken 90 as well,” Smalley said. “They each had one or two holes that would have made that possible.

“It’s exciting to see them all playing their best golf at this time.”

And then there’s Maddi Kamas.

Widely considered the best female golfer in the state, she practically lapped the field with her 2-under-par 70 to claim the individual regional championship.

That score was 17 strokes better than Cushing’s Kaybre Wright and Weatherford’s Chloe Cummins (Wright won a onehole playoff to take second place).

“Maddi is going to be Maddi and it’s a blessing to be able to coach the best player in the state,” Smalley said. “She is so level-headed and just a solid-solid player.”

Now Kamas and the Lady Jackets turn their attention to state Wednesday and Thursday at Buffalo Rock Golf & Venue in Cushing.

They do so as the No. 1 ranked team.

Qualifiers from the three other regionals were: No. 3 Elk City, No. 6 Tuttle and Newcastle from Elk City; No. 5 Pauls Valley, No. 14 Seminole and Muldrow from Jimmie Austin in Norman; and No. 4 Wagoner, No. 2 Hilldale and No. 10 Ft. Gibson from Muskogee.

Cushing and Weatherford, the other two qualifiers from Kingfisher, are ranked seventh and ninth, respectively.

Hilldale won the last contested state championship in 2019.

The individual runner-up in 2019, Kamas wants to achieve individual and team glory, but is also staying focused.

“I just want to stay as relaxed as possible and have the most fun I can,” Kamas said.

“I just want to encourage my teammates to also have fun and make the most of our experience.”

Smalley encouraged her team members to appreciate what they’ve accomplished, but to not be satisfied.

“I texted them all after the regional win telling them how proud I was of all of them,” Smalley said. “But we have unfinished business that we need to take care of in Cushing next week.”

Team Standings

Kingfisher* 339

Cushing* 379

Weatherford* 388

Elgin 397 Anadarko 411

Anadarko 411 Bethany 454

Bethany 454

Bridge Creek 470

Classen SAS 530

* Qualified for state