Learning new things rates 10-out-of-10 to Teleri Stamper.
The Arlington High School senior and her teammates concluded their golf season Tuesday during the Class C-2 District Tournament at Oakland Golf Club. Like Kayla Schwedhelm and Kaelyn Kinnaman, this fall was Stamper's first and last as a prep golfer. She carded a team-low 128 strokes across 18 holes.
“I thought it was going to be a lot scarier than it was,” Stamper said, comparing her thoughts in August to Tuesday's. “I thought I was going to do bad because it was my first year, but it ended up being better than I expected. I really liked my teammates. They were all really helpful and supportive.”
The Eagle finished 29 swings out of 10th place and an individual NSAA State Championships qualification. Columbus Scotus' Cecillia Arndt won the tourney with 79 swings, while her Shamrocks, Oakland-Craig and Fremont Bergan claimed state team qualifications with top-three finishes.
Arlington, meanwhile, finished without a district team score Tuesday. It was playing the Oakland course for the second time in four days.
“I liked the second time better,” Stamper said.
There was one exception, though.
“Hole No. 8 kicked my butt. I hated hole eight,” the senior said. “My ball has a magnet to the driving range. It always went that way. I hit every tree.”
Schwedhelm, meanwhile, finished with 145 swings for coach Cailyn Johnson's AHS lineup. She had just 64 on hole Nos. 10-18.
Kinnaman added 146 strokes for the Eagles, too, while Sarah Rhea shot a 149. Grace Jones took 152 swings as well.
Overall, the season was a learning process for AHS' golfers. Johnson said experience was one of the most important things they picked up.
“I think the confidence that they knew what clubs to use at certain times, certain distances,” she said when asked about the golfers' biggest accomplishment in that regard. “That was good to see.”
Stamper, a former softball player, took to the sport quicker than others.
“I already kind of had the hand-eye coordination,” she said. “It was easier for me to make connections with the ball.”
The rules surrounding the game were a lot to take in, though.
“That was probably the hardest thing,” Stamper said.
But, in-between lessons, the Eagles and their coach were able to enjoy themselves out on the course — and off of it — this season.
“We got ice cream a couple of times,” Johnson said, smiling. “That was good team-bonding.”
