Hillsboro junior Kristin Jamieson traveled to the Ohio State University Golf Club Friday and Saturday to take part in the D I girls golf state tournament.
Jamieson finished in a tie for 26th place at the tournament with a two day score of 158 as she carded a 78 on Friday and an 80 on Saturday.
“It has been an honor to go to state two years in a row. You have to be on your game for consecutive days at the state tournament, I haven’t played as well as I have wanted to both years. But, I hope to be back there again next year,” said Jamieson.
Jamieson told The Times-Gazette, “I didn’t make putts either day. It’s upsetting because I had been putting as well as I ever have in the weeks leading up to the state tournament. I probably lost four strokes on my first nine on Saturday just on the greens.”
Despite her struggles Jamieson was the picture of composure as she continued to take the tournament one hole at a time.
At the turn on Saturday Jamieson was 12 stroke over par. However, she did not let that carry over into her second nine on the day where she shot two under par and holed three birdies.
“I have to continue with the same approach regardless of the results. I try not to let the outcome effect my approach,” Jamieson said.
Jamieson credits her coaches with instilling a constant approach into her game. “Coaches stressed that I keep my composure. If I have a bad day I can’t let that affect how I approach the game.”
The tenth hole on Saturday gave Jamieson and Hillsboro head coach Dave Hilliard an opportunity to reflect on the first nine. “I told coach Hilliard that we had to take ten seconds and just laugh at how bad the first nine was for me. I went on to make par on the hole and everything fell into place from there,” said Kristin.
Jamieson said that the two days of golf at the state tournament felt more like “three or four days” and that she “enjoyed the experience and learned a lot.”
Despite her success up to this point in her golf career Jamieson is keeping it all in perspective, “I started playing golf late so I have spent the last three or four years trying to with everyone else. I have come a long way in the five years since I started playing and I can’t expect everything to come together right away.”
Jamieson also achieved one of her longtime goals on Sunday evening when she verbally committed to play golf at OSU in the fall of 2019. Jamieson received the offer on Saturday evening, from OSU Women’s golf coach Therese Hession, following her 18 hole performance in the state tournament.
“Coach Hession got me and my parents together and offered me a spot on the golf team for 2019. I think that her being there to see me struggle and the fact that I didn’t give up and was able to minimize damage on the second nine both days confirmed to her that I was the player she wanted,” Jamieson said.
“This is literally a dream come true, Coach Hession is very experienced and knowledgeable. I have been pinching myself to make sure that it is actually happening.”
Jamieson also said her time frame for the growth of her game has changed, “Now I don’t have to worry about proving myself to other programs. I can focus on becoming the best golfer I can be over the next 18-21 months to hold up mu end of the bargain with Ohio State. This whole experience has taught me that if you want something and work for it, no goal is out of reach.”
Jamieson also took the time to thank the people that she believes have helped her, “I want to say thank you to my family, coaches, friends, community, the golf courses that I play on, Hillsboro High School, and my teammates.”
Reach Ryan Applegate at 937-402-2572, or on Twitter @RCApplegate89.
