The Douglas High girls golf team poses for a photo after winning the Class 3A state title at Genoa Lakes Golf Course on Tuesday. Pictured, left to right, are head coach JD Frisby, Madison Frisby, Abbigail Detsch, Mackenzie Willis, Logan Karwoski, Abby Miller, Giana Zinke and coach Markus Zinke.
Photo by Carter Eckl.
There was no mistaking who the best girls golf team was in Class 3A this year.
After winning 15 consecutive meets between last season and this season, the Douglas High girls golf team capped an epic run with its second consecutive Class 3A state title.
It was no less impressive in 2022, as the Tigers cruised in the state tournament, winning the team title by 89 strokes over the two-day event at Genoa Lakes Golf Course.
“It wasn’t just handed to us. We earned it,” said junior Abbigail Detsch.
The Tigers started by gaining a 40-stroke advantage after day one and continued to dominate on the final day of competition.
Individually, it was sophomore Giana Zinke who led the way for the Tigers.
Zinke put together an 80 on the first day of the state tournament before ending the season with the best round of the tournament, shooting a 76.
Zinke’s final score of 156 was two strokes better than anyone else in the field.
“I wanted to do it, not just for myself, but for my team, too,” said Zinke. “They’ve helped me get here. If I didn’t have chipping competitions or trying to beat them out here … it’s really just nice to see it all pay off.”
The rest of the team was all inside of the top 13.
(Madison Frisby follows through after hitting an approach shot from the 18th fairway at Genoa Lakes Golf Course Tuesday in the Class 3A state tournament. Frisby was seventh as an individual / Carter Eckl)
Senior Abby Miller was fourth after putting together a two-day score of 167 while Abbigail Detsch and Madison Frisby were just off Miller’s pace with a 172 and 175, respectively.
“All we do in practice is putt and chip. I don’t think other teams really know how much work we put in on the range,” said Miller.
The Tigers’ final two scores on the team card were Mackenzie Willis — who was 10th — and Logan Karwoski, who took 13th.
Winning the state title on their home course was an added bonus for the Tigers.
However, that didn’t minimize the pressure from knowing they were the favorites coming into the tournament.
“The fact that we were on our home course too, added to the pressure,” said Karwoski. “Our community was kind of expecting it, so I think that put more pressure on us.”
After winning the 2021 state title without a senior, both Miller and fellow senior Mackenzie Willis got emotional talking about how surreal it was to finish their final season with another trophy.
“It was so great playing with these girls and having the dynamic that we all have,” said Willis. “A lot of us put in work not just in practice, but outside of practice, too. I think that really showed today.”
This season, the Tigers were continually fielding questions about what they could accomplish.
“Last year, nobody really knew we had a team until we won state,” said Zinke. “This year, people were cheering us on. It kind of added so much more value because people knew about it and were excited about it.”
All six Douglas golfers earned Class 3A first-team honors prior to the state tournament, checking off another goal of the team.
They also agreed they put in even more work this season, knowing they had another chance at state hardware.
(Douglas High’s Giana Zinke follows through on her shot on the 18th hole at Genoa Lakes Golf Course during the girls Class 3A state golf tournament. Zinke was the individual champion with a score of 156. / Carter Eckl)
(Tiger senior Abby Miller watches her putt on the 18th green Tuesday. Miller shot a 167 to take fourth as the Douglas High girls golf team won its second straight Class 3A state title. / Carter Eckl)
