STATE GOLF: Lesnar ready for another trip to state

WORTHINGTON — It’s the same answer over and over when asking how long an athlete has played a sport. They all seem to say they’ve been playing since they were born, even though that’s physically impossible.

Worthington’s Kate Lesnar, however, is pretty darn close.

“I’ve been golfing since I was born,” Lesnar said. “No, I really have.

“My parents brought me to a golf course when I was five days old.”

Although she wasn’t picking up clubs, those first smells of the grass and sounds of golf balls exploding off a driver could be what has brought Lesnar to her second consecutive state meet today in Class AA in Jordan.

Lesnar doesn’t truly know why she loves golf.

“I just love it,” Lesnar said. “I don’t know why. I love everything about it.

“Being out on the course is really relaxing. I just focus on each shot and do the best I can. When I focus on that, I don’t think about anything else going on in my life.”

The junior shot an 88 last season and finished in the middle of the pack after qualifying with a 91. This season, Lesnar shot an 86 to qualify, so there’s obvious improvement.

“She’s brought her score down now where she’s really competitive with the top quarter of players at state,” WHS golf coach Ron Wood said. “Her strengths are on the green. She works very hard on her short game and her putting.”

Lesnar is hoping the year of state experience under her belt will help improve her performance.

“Since I’ve seen the course last year, I know the quirky holes and what to do and how to handle them,” Lesnar said. “I won’t be as nervous this year.”

Lesnar’s coach has no worries when it comes to Lesnar’s mind game.

“She’s extremely dedicated to the game,” Wood said. “She’s very dedicated to whatever she does.

“It’s that dedication that allows her to be where she’s at now. Golf is a game of repetition and it can get really boring to putt the ball 100 times or chip the ball 100 times, but she’s willing to do that. She stays focused on getting the job done.”

There’s no place Lesnar would rather be than at the state meet and, with one more year of golf left, there’s no place Lesnar would rather return to.

“I’m excited that I have one more year, so I can have one more chance to make it,” Lesnar said. “I just want to do my best this year, relax and have fun.

“Where I end up is perfectly fine.”

Regardless of the result, Lesnar will end up back at the golf course.

“She’s willing to do whatever it takes,” Wood said. “She’s always focused on what she’s going to do and she’s always ready to work.

Daily Globe Sports Editor Chris Murphy may be reached at 376-7328.

Tags: sports, prep, trojans, golf