Hargens has success in short time on course

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sierra Hargens put down a bat and picked up a club last year.

The Cedar Rapids Kennedy junior discovered a perfect fit right in her hands.

Hargens joined the Cougars' golf team for the first time last season and advanced the Class 5A state tournament. She has worked on her game, looking for a return to the state meet and an improved finish.

Her previous experience was a couple rounds of golf with her dad, Scott. Hargens said he described her swing as a natural and encouraged her to give it a try.

'It's crazy,” Hargens said. 'I decided to go out for golf instead of softball. It's one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Buerman recognized the talent the first time she saw Hargens hit during one of her summer clinics. She did wonder why she wasn't already playing.

'She was knocking them straight off the driving range,” Buerman said. 'All of us were like, ‘Who are you? Why didn't you play golf this year?' It was a nice addition we didn't know we had here.”

Hargens was surprised when she progressed from newcomer to state qualifier. The approach transitioned from just doing her best to competing with anyone.

'It made me realize how good I've become since I started,” Hargens said. 'If you had asked me at the beginning of the season if I thought I was going to even qualify for state at all I would have said no. It was a crazy experience that happened. I was proud of myself.”

Hargens developed into the Cougars' top golfer, leading the team with a nine-hole average of 47.5 and an 18-hole average less than 94, according to quikstats. She was honorable mention all-Mississippi Valley Conference Mississippi Division and surpassed expectations by overcoming a tough regional field.

'It was icing on the cake of her first season,” Kennedy Coach Julie Buerman said. 'It was like, ‘OK, cool, I qualified.” It also motivated her in ‘I got there. Now what can I do and do better. It propelled her into this year.”

Hargens devoted herself in the off-season. She took lessons with Elmcrest Country Club's PGA Teaching Pro Brian Johnson and regularly hit in simulators with friend and teammate Val Davidson.

'I've definitely improved a lot since last year and I'm really looking forward to improving my scores this year,” Hargens said. 'It really helps being able to work in the off-season and get ready for this season.”

Hargens shot 44 Tuesday, tying for runner-up honors in a quadrangular Tuesday in Dubuque. She is concentrating on her short game, which is key to shaving strokes.

'That's what golf is all about,” Hargens said. 'I'm just looking to make my swings more consistent and hitting better shots.”

Buerman said Hargens has made an impact on her teammates. Her work and improvement have pushed her teammates to better their games as well. Kennedy finished second at a meet Tuesday with 200, placing behind only Cedar Falls.

'It's been a fun spring so far,” Buerman said. 'I've really enjoyed the team that I have this year.”

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