Lady Arrows golf off to a strong start with new head coach
Junior Ellyn Burchfield putting at the Germantown tournament.
By Charlie Rook
It’s a season of new beginnings for the girls’ Clinton High School golf team, as first year coach Cameron Melton takes the reins of the program. The team has already competed in three tournaments so far this season, leaving with a fifth place finish in Germantown, a sixth place finish at Northwest Rankin, and a third place finish on their home course in Clinton.
The scoring system for girls high school golf involves combining the best two scores from each team. Every team will bring four competitors for each tournament, taking the best two scores. For example, if a team of four scored 70, 75, 80, 85, the team score would be 145, using the 70 and 75. This season, the Lady Arrows have scored both a 145 (Par 64), a 185, and a 177.
According to Coach Melton, a qualifying team score for the state tournament is under 200.
The beginning of the season for the Lady Arrows has been very successful; however, Melton says there’s still a long way to go.
“So far, this season has gone well, but it is still early,” said Melton. “Our highlight of the season so far has been Ellyn Burchfield’s 67 (tie for fifth individual) at Whisper Lake Country Club on August 13.”
Despite being just three tournaments into the season, Melton specified that there has already been a significant amount of improvement this season, and there are several areas to grow.
“Even early in the season, I have seen improvement across the board from the team,” said Melton. “The team consists of players in ninth through twelfth grade and with a wide range of experience. As a team, I would say our most notable improvement has been on the greens. Managing and improving our putting has shaved several strokes off of our tournament scores.
Moving forward, I would like to reduce big numbers on the scorecard by improving club selection, approach shots and course management for each player.”
With five tournaments left to go, there’s a lot of time to make this season very successful for the Lady Arrows, and for Coach Melton, that simply means individual growth.
“A successful season, in my opinion, would include measurable improvements in each of my players’ golf games,” said Melton. “This could look like a player breaking 100 for the first time or a player breaking par. By focusing on consistent individual effort, I believe this program will have success when the moment for team competition comes.”
The Lady Arrows’ next tournament will be on Wednesday, September 24, hosted by Madison Central at Whisper Lake Country Club.
