MADISON - Darlington sophomore Naomi Black's summer tour playing golf courses around the area paid big dividends Tuesday.
Black shot an 87 and won a sudden death playoff at the WIAA Division 2 Madison Edgewood sectional at Yahara Hills to qualify for the state golf tournament. Black and Beloit Turner's Kate Engler were tied at 83 and played the 457-yard No. 1. Black shot a par and Engler bogeyed the hole and that sealed a state berth for Black.
"In the playoff, she didn't get rattled," Darlington-Cuba City coach Gary Ringen said. "She kept her cool. It's just unbelievable."
Black finished eighth overall and was one of three individual qualifiers not on the two state qualifying teams. Madison Edgewood, which has won nine straight state titles, won the sectional and Osseo Fairchild was second.
Black advances to the state golf tournament Oct. 11-12 at University Ridge. The state tournament isn't new to Naomi and her family. The last Darlington girls golfer to qualify for state was Naomi's older sister, Natalie Black in 2003.
"They are really a golf family," Ringen said.
Ringen marveled at Naomi's consistency as she racked up four pars on the front nine.
"You talk about consistency. She was just a machine," Ringen said.
Naomi's sister, Nellie Black, shot a 92 and finished 15th out of 48 golfers.
"She got off to a tough start on the first hole with a double bogey," Ringen said. "This is probably one of the toughest sectionals in the state."
Black shot an 87 and won a sudden death playoff at the WIAA Division 2 Madison Edgewood sectional at Yahara Hills to qualify for the state golf tournament. Black and Beloit Turner's Kate Engler were tied at 83 and played the 457-yard No. 1. Black shot a par and Engler bogeyed the hole and that sealed a state berth for Black.
"In the playoff, she didn't get rattled," Darlington-Cuba City coach Gary Ringen said. "She kept her cool. It's just unbelievable."
Black finished eighth overall and was one of three individual qualifiers not on the two state qualifying teams. Madison Edgewood, which has won nine straight state titles, won the sectional and Osseo Fairchild was second.
Black advances to the state golf tournament Oct. 11-12 at University Ridge. The state tournament isn't new to Naomi and her family. The last Darlington girls golfer to qualify for state was Naomi's older sister, Natalie Black in 2003.
"They are really a golf family," Ringen said.
Ringen marveled at Naomi's consistency as she racked up four pars on the front nine.
"You talk about consistency. She was just a machine," Ringen said.
Naomi's sister, Nellie Black, shot a 92 and finished 15th out of 48 golfers.
"She got off to a tough start on the first hole with a double bogey," Ringen said. "This is probably one of the toughest sectionals in the state."
