The more she improves her game, the tougher it becomes for Northwest golfer Lacey Snell to show improvement.
Snell advanced to the Class 2 state championship as a freshman in 2014, the first Lion to do so during head coach Greg Antrainer’s tenure, She shot a 95 to tie for 44th at that tournament, which was shortened to one round due to weather.
Snell returned in 2015 and jumped into a tie for 20th with a two-day score of 163 (84-79), then cracked the top 10 last year after shooting 160 (82-78).
“At that course (the Sedalia Country Club), and with the competition that was there, some very, very good players, great players, and to come in 10th, that’s something for her to proud of,” said Antrainer, now in his 10th year with the program.
Now the real test begins, as Snell attempts to shave a few more strokes off her score in her senior season.
“When you’re talking about going from shooting 38 to shooting 37 (per nine holes), that’s not easy to do,” Antrainer said. “It’s pretty easy to go from 45 to 40, but when you get to that point where you’re trying to go from 38 to 37, I know it’s only one stroke, but that is hard to do.”
Antrainer said Snell, last year’s Suburban West Conference Player of the Year, is determined to do it.
“Lacey is by far the best player I’ve ever had, by at least six strokes, seven strokes per nine holes,” Antrainer said.
“You can just see her getting better all around the game. She’s taking more time, thinking about it, picking out her spots when she’s chipping, and it’s really starting to show. I think she’s going to score even better this year.”
Antrainer said the improvements won’t likely be visible in Snell’s long game, as she has already proven to be very adept there.
“In my opinion, Lacey is one of the best ball strikers in the state. She really is, because really, up until this year, that was what she primarily worked on was ball striking, hitting balls, and she hits the ball clean almost every time she hits it,” Antrainer said. “I mean, she’s just a phenomenal striker of the golf ball. With her long game, she drives the ball really well, she plays her hybrids really well and she hits the irons really well. That’s her biggest strength.”
Antrainer said Snell has been focusing on her work on and around the green.
“In years past, most of her time was spent honing her swing, and now she’s honing in on her short game,” Antrainer said. “She was a good short game player before, don’t get me wrong, but that was one area of her game that needed improvement, so that’s what she’s working on.”
Often for as long as two hours on a practice day, not to mention before every match.
“She’ll get to the course before me, and she’ll be on the practice green with balls, chipping and putting,” Antrainer said. “That’s how you really score low in golf is if you’ve got the short game figured out, so she’s practicing on that.”
It’s made a difference, as Antrainer said Snell has averaged a 37 through the first few weeks of the season.
“She knocked off a stroke from where she was,” Antrainer said. “To average about 2-over par for every round, that’s not easy to do, at any level.”
Antrainer said he is hopeful that Snell’s knowledge of the game and skills on the course can provide a boost to her teammates.
“She works with the girls on their swing, giving them drills that they can work on to improve,” Antrainer said. “She helps them out as best as she can, gives them tips on hitting the ball, on putting. It’s really great to have her around, she’s a real benefit to the team.”
The rest of the varsity squad includes seniors Allison Franken and Rebecca Lagermann, both four-year members of the program.
“They’ve been really working on their game, and they’re hitting the ball much better,” Antrainer said.
Senior Sarah Marting is back for her second year, and Antrainer said her improvement from her first year “is just astounding to me.”
Others include juniors Madeline Baugh, Izzy Baugh, Emily Henningsen and Hailey May.
“It’s a great group of kids, just super kids,” Antrainer said. “They’re fantastic, and they work really, really hard, they really give their best effort every time they come out.”
As Northwest wraps up its first regular season using Fox Run as its home course, Antrainer had nothing but praise for the how the new setup has benefited his program.
“Fox Run been very gracious to open up the course for us, help out the girls, and we couldn’t be more thankful for everything they’ve done for our girls,” he said.
The Suburban West Conference championships were scheduled to be held Wednesday at the Links of Dardenne after the Leader deadline. The Class 2 District 1 tournament will be at Aberdeen Golf Club on Sept. 25.