Snider wins golf regional

Raegan Snider has a confidence about her that’s rare for a high school golfer, much less a freshman.

It was on display last Tuesday in a Class 4A regional at Kingfisher Golf Course.

“I asked her how she felt about hitting a particular club on a certain hole,” recalled KHS girls golf coach Audra Smalley.

“She said, ‘I feel good with any club.’”

Snider proved it late in the afternoon when she defeated Moriah Shropshire of Perkins-Tryon and Chloe Cummins of Weatherford in a playoff for medalist honors.

After all three shot an 82 in their regional rounds, Snider put her tee shot in the fairway of the 18th hole.

Her second shot went to the backside of the green and she eventually tapped in for bogey. Shropshire and Cummins both double-bogeyed the hole.

That gave Snider her first win of her career - the regional championship and an automatic berth in this week’s state tournament.

“I thought that was so awesome…she was definitely feeling it that day,” Smalley said. “It’s so amazing that a freshman can play the way she did that day and then wait over an hour and win a playoff with two other girls.”

Snider won’t be alone at state.

Sophomore teammate Kylie Hood shot a 92, which also put her among the individual qualifiers who will play Wednesday and Thursday at Buffalo Rock in Cushing.

That’s the site of last year’s state tournament. Hood was a freshman for the Lady Jackets team that finished as state runner-up.

“She has had to totally adjust her way of thinking, from team member to competing as an individual,” Smalley said of Hood.

“I have seen her confidence grow so much. She has such a great attitude and always has a smile on her face.”

Regional tournaments advance the top three teams and ties. They also award the top four medalists, whether from qualifying or non-qualifying teams.

Beyond that, the next three top individual golfers from non-qualifying teams advance.

Hood was tops among those individuals. Smalley said her score could have been even lower.

“She had three bad holes. She could have easily been in the 80’s,” Smalley said. “She hit some of the best shots that day that I’ve ever seen from her.”

A bulk of Snider’s miscues on holes were due to her hitting it too far off the tee.

“I knew she could hit the ball a mile,” Smalley said.

“I told the girls they are the only people I’m okay with out-driving me..and they both do.”

On Tuesday, Snider was able to put the tough holes behind her and put together a championship round.

“The way she handles herself and her confidence is truly amazing,” Smalley said.

Perkins-Tryon won the team title with a 360, one stroke better than Weatherford. Tuttle and Cushing both shot 382 to advance to state.

Shropshire and Cummins eventually played three more playoff holes before Shropshire was able to secure a second-place medalist finish.

Rachel Carruth of Weatherford shot an 85 to finish fourth.

Other individual qualifiers were Aydan Smith (95) and Lola Meek (96), both of Newcastle.

The state tournament will be 36 holes, 18 each day.

“I am so excited for them at the state tournament. The sky is truly the limit for them,” Smalley said.

“The best part is that I have them for two and three more years. I am very proud to be their coach.”