Williamsburg girls’ golf maintains high expectations

Williamsburg Coach Todd Subbert said he isn’t surprised by this season’s success.

Despite graduating two-thirds of last year’s lineup, the Raiders girls’ golf program maintains its high expectations. This season is no different.

“It’s been huge,” Subbert said. “They know right away, if you’re going out for golf and want to be a varsity player the expectation is that we’re not just going to be ‘out’ for golf. We’re going to be good.

“We’re going to work at it. We’re going to do things other teams aren’t doing. We’re going to go the extra mile, spend a little more time at the range. A big part of our identity is the expectation.”

The Raiders will open the postseason Friday, hosting a Class 2A first-round regional meet at Stone Creek Golf Club. Teams from across the state in 1A and 2A will compete in first-round regionals, attempting to advance to next week’s regional finals. Classes 3A and 4A only play regional finals.

The field at Stone Creek includes Albia, Centerville, Davis County, East Marshall, Eddyville EBF, Monroe PCM and West Marshall.

“It’s been a really good year,” Subbert said. “We host tomorrow, so there is a little comfort factor there. It’s kind of nice the first round is at home.”

Williamsburg has thrived in recent postseasons. The Raiders have qualified for the last four state tournaments, dating back to 2018 since the 2020 was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were fourth last year, placing seventh in 2019 and fifth in 2018.

The Raiders will face some challenges in the next two tournaments to return.

“It’s going to take us some work to get in the show again,” Subbert said. “Certainly, that is the goal. It is the goal at the beginning of every year. Get back to the big tournament.”

Williamsburg ranks fifth in 2A with a 198.61 combined adjusted team average. The Raiders have won all but two meets this season, finishing runner-up to 3A contender West Delaware at the Wamac Super Meet and a conference triangular.

Senior Teagan Schaefer and sophomore Jaisel Bott lead the way. Schaefer, who tied for 13th at the 2021 state meet, owns a 45.45 combined adjusted average and comes in about 86.5 per round. Bott sits at 47.25 and 90 for 18 holes.

They were the lone starters from last season and the only Raiders with varsity experience. They have been pillars for the team this year.

“Those two have been super for us right from the start,” Subbert said. “That’s a tremendous treat, I would say. You have two really good golfers.”

The duo pushes one another, trying to out-do the other in practice and competition. They have been good examples for teammates to emulate.

“They are both super-nice kids,” Subbert said. “They are very competitive. They’ve been competitive with each other and that kind of helps the other kids as well. It shows them it’s all right to compete. It’s all right to want to beat another person on your team. That’s OK.

“A huge part of our success has been because of those two, not just playing, but leadership-wise. They’ve been great.”

Juniors Kaylee Culp and Peyton Driscoll have stepped into the lineup, owning a combined adjusted average less than 54. Seniors Rosie Wardenburg and Morgan Schropp round out the starters. Subbert has seen them all progress with the season, benefiting from nicer weather, practicing outdoors and gaining experience.

“All of those factors together have led to improvement,” Subbert said. “We’re going to need that (Friday) and next Wednesday. We need to keep getting better.”

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