Unpredictable weather has been commonplace over the weekend, although there’s only a 10-percent chance of rain on Monday for Emporia, the site of the girls’ Class 5A state golf tournament.
That’s good news for Maddie Werth and McKenna Mauler, out of Great Bend High School.
Werth and Mauler will be competing in the extravaganza at Emporia Municipal Golf Course, located at 1133 South Highway 99. There will be 91 participants and 23 flights, with Mauler teeing off at 8:30 a.m. and Werth at 9:50.
Werth, a senior, clinched her third consecutive state berth and Mauler, a junior, her second, last Monday in a regional played at Salina Municipal Golf Course.
Turning in a 91, Werth finished fourth, the first time she has medaled at a regional, and Mauler was one of five golfers who qualified individually after shooting a 99.
Both players have improved their games after narrowly missing state berths when they were freshmen.
“McKenna is the same way as Maddie,” GBHS head coach Troy Stein said. “She’s played before she got into the program, and it’s similar to Maddie’s story because McKenna also narrowly missed out on going to state as freshman.
“As a sophomore, (Mauler) medaled at the regional tournament and was very close to medaling at several other tournaments. She had a really good sophomore year and this year, her scores were improved throughout the season.
“She took home second place at Liberal and ninth at our tournament (in the regular-season finale).”
Mauler was a first-team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and Werth was an honorable mention pick, and the latter elevated her game a notch in Salina.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Werth said of the state meet. “I just keep it in my head that if you hit a bad shot, you have another one to hit.
“Just don’t dwell on the bad ones. Just think about the good ones, and you’ll be fine.
Werth and Mauler are expected to play a practice round or two today in Emporia.