Goodley makes history, medals at state golf tournament
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[What a difference a day can make.
In Taylor Goodley's case, it was a day history was made.
The Eldorado High School freshman climbed the proverbial ladder of success at this weekend's IHSA State Girls' Golf Tournament at Red Trail Run Golf Course, moving from 14th place to a 10th place finish.
Goodley was in 14th place after Friday, but finished her second round with a pair of birdies on the backside, to go along with a pair of bogeys and double bogeys to finish 34-40=78, shooting a two day total of 162 and a tie for 10th place.
Goodley also had a double bogey, a bogey and a birdie on the front side as she took home a medal and in the process made history, becoming the first female golfer in Eldorado High School to do so, being named All-State. Taylor was the only freshman in the top 10 out of the 112 girls competing in the state tournament.
"Taylor did a great job of keeping herself in the tournament the first day with the winds blowing 30 to 35 mph," EHS head coach Greg Goodley said. "The course played tough and Taylor knew that she left some strokes on the course the first day. I think she also knew that she had make some adjustments to move up the leader in the final round."
Taylor Goodley herself even acknowledged the importance of hitting greens in regulation and taking advantage of it by hitting good putts.
"With the winds still blowing I knew that I would have to be patient and take advantage of my opportunities," Taylor Goodley said.
Goodley was one of only eight golfers to shoot in the 70's in Saturday's final round.
"I am very proud of her focus and determination over the two days, and the season, she set a goal for herself and reached it," Goodley said.
Jessa Handwerk, who looked to improve on last year's eighth place finish at the IHSA State Girls' Golf Tournament was looking good in 11th place after Day 1 Friday at Red Trail Run Golf Course in Decatur, but a disastrous back nine where the Harrisburg senior carded seven bogeys and a double bogey in windy conditions finished with a 40-45=85 for a 167 and a 20th place finish at 23-over par.
Other notable scores from the area included Pinckneyville's Heather McDaniel, who played in Handwerk's group the final day, finished one stroke back of Nashville's Shawn Rennegarbe with a 156 and a fifth place finish.
Rennegarbe had a two-day total of 157 and fourth place finish as an individual.
Nashville as a team finished one stroke shy of the state crown with a 687, losing out to University Height's, while Massac County took third place with a 691 after going out and shooting a 337 on Saturday, matching the best team round of the tournament for one day with Nashville.