For a second consecutive season, Park Hill South senior girls golfer Tyler Murphy is preparing for a trip to the MSHSAA Class 4 State Championships.
Park Hill South’s Tyler Murphy earned a spot in the state championships for a second straight year.
This time, however, she will be the only Panther competing, knowing it will be her final time representing Park Hill South on a golf course.
Murphy qualified for the state championships after placing 16th of 77 competitors at the Class 4 District 4 Tournament, held Oct. 7 at Hodge Park Golf Course. She finished three shots off an all-district medal, but made the cut comfortably by six shots.
Entering the day as a No. 1 seed, Murphy finished 18-over-par in 90 shots to tie with St. Michael the Archangel’s Ella Seaton. Murphy won her group of four by making par on seven holes, including four on the front nine.
Park Hill South finished fifth as a team, with all five golfers finishing in the top half of the individual standings. The team trailed second-place Liberty, who qualified as a team, by 64 strokes and district champion Staley by 77.
Junior Clara Berberich was the closest challenger to join Murphy in making the cut for state, finishing seven strokes back at 27th. Berberich used a birdie on hole 11 and a pair of pars on the front nine to guide her performance, winning her group as a No. 3 seed.
Junior Nora Swanson rounded out Park Hill South’s fifth-place district performance after shooting 38-over.
The Toohigs also made a run for a state appearance, with both winning their respective groups as well. Allie Toohig concluded her Panther career with a top-30 finish at districts with five pars and a final score of 31-over, while freshman Katie Toohig concluded her district debut in 33rd place with a par on the second hole.
The Panthers’ fifth-place finish was confirmed by the performance of Nora Swanson. The junior finished 40th overall, highlighted by making par on the sixth hole.
Justice Robinson led Park Hill’s 10th-place performance by shooting 27-over on Oct. 7.
Park Hill finished 10th as a team, led by junior all-conference honoree Justice Robinson. As a No. 5 seed, Robinson finished 27-over with a pair of pars to win her group of three and place 26th overall, three strokes from a state championship berth.
Senior Jillian Theys followed with a top-half finish, placing 35th overall after shooting par on the first hole. The senior trio of Kate McDonald, Gabby Loya and Kinsley Fowler also concluded their Trojan careers.
Staley sophomore Betsy Mitchell was the individual district champion, finishing 1-under to beat teammate Alexi Omillian by a single stroke.
Murphy’s preparations will turn to the 52nd MSHSAA Girls Golf Championships, with Class 4’s tournament set for Oct. 19-20 at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield.
Murphy previously played alongside Kate Yager in last year’s state tournament, which was held in Sedalia. She placed 85th overall, four spots higher than Yager, shooting a 96 on the first day and a 100 on the second day.
A year later, Murphy has another chance to conclude her high school golf career on the state’s biggest stage.