Sidney golf takes first first at Chadron event

The Sidney girls’ golf team was fantastic Tuesday morning in Chadron, as four of its five varsity players placed in the top 10 out of a field of 34 players and it won its first tournament of the season by one stroke over Gering.

All five of Sidney’s varsity players ended the tournament in the top 12. 

“The girls played well and we are very happy to get that first win of the season,” Sidney head coach Dani Kuchar said.

Gering’s Sam Rahmig took first place in the individual standings with a very impressive score of 78. Junior Rachel Blauert led the way for Sidney and finished second overall with a round of 87. It was her first top five placement of the season. 

In order, Chadron’s Alpine Hickstein, Valentine’s Ashton Bancroft and Sidney senior Theda parker—who shot a 101 and who also made her top five debut—rounded out the top five. Parker came up big for Sidney on Tuesday morning.

“Theda dropped five strokes and shot her season low of 101 which played a huge part on our team score,” Kuchar said.

Junior Megan Neal shot a 105, which placed her seventh overall. Kuchar says Neal has been working hard to be a more efficient putter on each hole. Both she and her coaches definitely noticed the fruits of that labor on Tuesday.

“The big individual accomplishment of the tournament was by Megan,” Kuchar said. “Coach [Jenn] Dinges and I have really pushing two-putting or less every hole and for the first time this season it happened.”

Freshman Jordan Cook recorded a 110, placing her in a tie for 10th overall with Baily Kreider of Gering. Fellow freshman Emma Alexander came in 12th—tied with Valentine’s Tori Osterman—with a 112 on the morning.

With its first win under its belt, Sidney will lock in on a new team goal going forward.

“Our next goal now is to break 400 as a team and we are getting close,” Kuchar said. “We have to continue to work to be consistent with our scores.”

Sidney is in great shape so far to start this season, as it has placed in the top 3 in three of the four tournaments it’s played. The Red Raiders will tee off again next Tuesday in Gering at 9 a.m.

Top 10 at Chadron

1. Sam Rahmig (Gering) 78

2. Rachel Blauert (Sidney) 87

3. Alpine Hickstein (Chadron) 88

4. Ashton Bancroft (Valentine) 97

5. Theda Parker (Sidney) 101

6. Jasie Beam (Gering) 104

7. Megan Neal (Sidney) 105

8. Alhaura Pourier (Chadron) 108

9. Tessa Douglas (Bayard) 109

10. Baily Kreider (Gering) 110

Jordan Cook (Sidney) 110

Team scores

1. Sidney 403

2. Gering 404

3. Scottsbluff 494

4. Alliance 521

5. Bayard 522

6. Chadron 534

7. Valentine 535

8. Gordon 577