Taylor becomes 2nd AHS golfer to reach girls state tourney

Eagles finish 7th overall

Posted

Late in Dianna Taylor's round at Oakland Golf Club on Tuesday, the Arlington Eagle found herself in a rough spot.
The senior's tee shot careened off of a tree and ended up in the middle of dirt cart path not far from the box. Undeterred, she played on and finished her 18 holes at the Class C District 2 Tournament in 10th-place, earning AHS' second-ever NSAA State Championships qualification.
“Strong and steady Dianna,” said Eagles coach Jason Wiese, describing his team's district standout.
Arlington's first and most recent state qualifier prior to Tuesday was APS sixth-grade teacher Erin Reed, who earned her spot as Erin Wilkins in 1998.
Twenty-two years later, Taylor shot a 106 in Oakland to claim her own berth at the Class C tourney, which takes place Oct. 12-13 at Elks Country Club in Columbus. Nine holes in, the Eagle had just 52 strokes.
“She knew she could be in the hunt,” Wiese said.
Taylor delivered, firing just 54 more shots over the next nine holes to earn the final qualification spot. Wiese and she watched as the rest of the scores came in and celebrated when everyone was accounted for.
The senior's overall 106 was two better than the scores posted by a pair of Columbus Scotus golfers, who'll also compete at state after the Shamrocks qualified as a team alongside Omaha Brownell-Talbot and district champion Boone Central.
The Eagles, meanwhile, finished seventh with 491 strokes. Senior Ema Horner shot AHS' second-lowest score, totaling 113 swings over 18 holes. Senior Charlie Hendry added a 126, Kloey Dau carded a 146 and Kaylie Erwin finished with a 149.
But Tuesday belonged to Taylor, who'd just shot a 124 at Oakland Golf Club days earlier during the final regular season meet of the fall. Wiese said the Eagle joined the golf team as a sophomore who had to learn the rules. Just a few years later, the senior is confident in her abilities and calm even when things go wrong out on the course, the coach added.
In the end, Taylor's steady play resulted in more work for Wiese, who had to make state plans after Tuesday's results went final.
“It was great work to add,” he said.

Dianna Taylor