Despite an hour and a half rain delay, Lauren Petty remained focused.
She was playing the final holes on day two of the New York State Girls Golf finals, held Saturday June 11 and Sunday June 12 at the State University of New York at Delhi.
Petty had scored a 75 the first day of the tournament. She was familiar with the course. She played it last year as a Baker High School junior, when she tied for third. Petty would finish Sunday out with a score of 70, setting both a personal record and a SUNY Delhi course record. She also beat the competition, becoming the New York State girls golf champion.
“I had a feeling she was going to do it,” said Coach Karen Schmidt, who has trained Petty since she joined the Girls’ Varsity Golf team at Baker High School as a seventh grader. “This was her year.”
This is Baldwinsville’s first win ever at the state level for girls’ golf. However, the fact that Petty secured the win isn’t a big surprise. She has qualified for state’s the past three years, beginning her sophomore year, and maintains her competitive edge with practice inside and outside of school.
“Lauren plays competitively outside the season,” Schmidt said. “Golf is such a mental game, you have to keep composure over two days of 18-hole golfing.”
Petty qualified for state during sectionals, which were held May 24 at Foxfire at Village Green Golf Course. She was the only Baldwinsville student to qualify for state this year.
After her win at SUNY Delhi, Petty said she was a little shocked, considering the level of skill she was playing against, but she also had confidence in herself.
“I figured I would have a chance after last year’s [performance],” she said.
She said she enjoys golf, a sport she has played since a child with her father’s encouragement, because her entire game rests in her hands.
“It’s all up to me. If I don’t play well, it’s me,” she said.
Petty plans to attend Hofstra University in the fall, where she will pursuit some type of business degree and play golf, of course. Over the summer, she will continue playing golf leisurely and competing in tournaments throughout central New York to maintain her edge. “I’m at the golf course everyday,” she said.
Petty’s advice to all athletes: “Keep your focus, don’t get too overwhelmed, and just relax.”
