David Cook
Sports Scene
For the Rockford girls golf team, the 2011 season was one of accomplishment on and off the golf course.
On the golf course, the team finished fourth overall in the rugged OK-Red Conference. The Rams started conference play by finishing third in the pre-season conference tournament and ended league play by placing fourth at the post-season tournament. During the season, the Rams also finished first in the Division 1 bracket at the Kent County Classic.
“Most importantly, we have girls that enjoyed each other and enjoyed helping others,” coach Scott Kruisenga said. Off the course, “they were all very willing to participate in community service events such as Healing Fields (putting flags together for 9-11 victims). They proved to show good sportsmanship during their matches along with keeping a competitive edge.”
This season, the Rams were led by the one-two punch of senior Kendra Winicki and junior Halle Dymowski.
Winicki led the Rams with a nine-hole average of 45.9. An all-conference player, she shot a low nine-hole score of 40 this year and a low 18-hole score of 88. Winicki finished in the top ten at three of six tournaments in which she played and was also named Rockford’s Athlete of the Month for September.
“Kendra hit most of her fairways in regulation, or at least close to it, setting up for increased opportunities for greens in regulation,” Kruisenga said. “She led the team in shots from 50 yards and in.”
Dymowski finished the year with a nine-hole average of 48.8. Dymowski also earned all-conference honors and had a low nine-hole score of 42 for the season and a low 18-hole score of 90.
“Leading to her personal success was Halle’s approach to the beginning of the season,” Kruisenga said. “She tried to constantly improve herself by going to a camp, seeing a pro, and playing many rounds of golf. Halle was second on the team in recovery percentage (number of times a bogey or worse was followed by a par or better).”