By Mike Zummo
Reagan Roth has gone to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association girls’ golf championships every year since she’s been playing scholastically.
This year – her senior year – will be no different as Roth, of Newburgh Free Academy, finished fourth at the Section 9 championships with a 36-hole score of 167 at Apple Greens Golf Course in Highland.
“I was just so excited that I was able to do it again today,” Roth said. “I’m excited to continue to golf.”
Goshen’s Isabella Ok won the individual title with a two-day score of 150.
Roth finished the first day of the tournament in fourth place with a score of 82.
She was the only Goldback to make the tournament’s second day. Julia Coyle just missed the Day 2 cut with a score of 102, one stroke behind Washingtonville’s Paige Fisher.
“The first day was good,” Roth said. “The second day was just hard because I was tired. I was hot and I had a few missed holes, but I kept it together. I just looked at it as one shot at a time and tried to hang in there.”
Roth competed on Thursday in Group 2 with Onteora’s Alexandra Young and Monroe- Woodbury’s Leah Sherin. Roth shot a 42 on the front nine and finished with a 43 on the back.
She survived several bogeys and managed to maintain her place in the field.
“I just keep it one shot at a time,” Roth said. “I look at it and know I can birdie every hole. Every hole is different.”
Roth will move on to her final state meet, which is scheduled for Sunday and Monday at the Edison Club in Rexford.
“It’s an awesome achievement because I’ve made it every year,” Roth said. “It’s exciting to be able to have the accomplishment of making it to states each year.”
She finished tied for 53rd at last year’s state meet with a 36-hole score of 184.
She shot nearly 20 strokes better last week but followed the sectional meet preparing for states.
“I’m just going to look at it with the same attitude and just play well for myself,” Roth said. “The game is really against me. I don’t know if I’m really in competition with the other girls. I just want to stay in there and shoot a good score.”