Megan Thiravong may have been the only Rochelle Township High School golfer competing in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Girls Conference Meet at Fairways Golf Course on Tuesday, but the Lady Hub freshman didn’t that stop her from finishing near the top of the 39-player field.
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ROCHELLE — Megan Thiravong may have been the only Rochelle Township High School golfer competing in the Northern Illinois Big 12 Girls Conference Meet at Fairways Golf Course on Tuesday, but the Lady Hub freshman didn’t that stop her from finishing near the top of the 39-player field.
While Thiravong has spent most of the season playing alongside her Rochelle teammates, the freshman appeared unfazed by competing on her own Tuesday morning, shooting 81 over 18 holes to medal in third place. She said she enjoyed facing off against the toughest girls in the conference, and her performance may have exceeded her expectations.
“I’ve played against boys all season long, so it felt great to finally challenge myself against talented female players,” Thiravong said. “Bringing home a third place medal was a surprise, as my goal was to play my best and finish in the top 10 at least. It’s an honor and a privilege to represent RTHS.”
Thiravong’s 81 was one of her best 18-hole scores this season, and she said a big reason for her success on Tuesday was her play from the tee box. With Fairways serving as Rochelle’s home course during the season, Thiravong utilized her practice time and her previous match experience on the course to her advantage.
“I was strong at the tee box and I felt comfortable lagging my putts in,” Thiravong said. “I struggled a little bit with my approach shots, but knowing the course always has an advantage, especially the layout for troubleshooting.”
Thiravong and her varsity teammates will have one more team tournament at Senica’s Oak Ridge on Saturday, Sept. 30 before the freshman splits from the boys to compete in the IHSA Class 1A Regional at Oregon’s Silver Ridge on Wednesday, Oct. 4. While Thiravong said she missed the comradery of her teammates during Tuesday’s conference meet, the Lady Hub standout said she doesn’t feel out of place when she’s playing by herself.
“Golf is an individual sport,” she said. “For the regional tournament, I hope to continue working on my short game… The plan is to have my swing coach, Brian Silvers, change up my routine on the course to help me stay focused and reach my goal.”
