Kimball’s girls golf team opened the schedule just about as coach Aaron Delhay expected, shooting 463 at Sidney then putting in a 471 showing at Bayard.

Just before the September 8 tournament in Mitchell, Delhay gathered his squad and told them they needed a 430 to pull anything positive from the event. They scoffed at the challenge, calling it almost impossible--then tore through the course at a 419 clip, good enough for second place.

Then at Four Winds on Friday, Emily Merryfield shot a 93, scorching her previous best by nine strokes and marking the first time she’s cracked the 100 barrier in tournament play.

“She was excited,” Delhay reported, “as was I.”

Paced by Merryfield, Kimball easily topped the team standings at their home course, registering a 445--well under second place Mitchell’s 484. Brooke Hager stumbled a bit, but ended up with a more than respectable 110. She rounded out the top three, behind Janet Kuskie of Perkins County at 102. Brianna Jones shot 115.

The coach would never have predicted that level of performance. “What I saw in practice, with the girls self-diagnosing and fixing--I couldn’t expect that,” Delhay said. “But with the amount of work they’ve put in, I’m not surprised.”

Merryfield’s rounds of 45 and 48 at Four Winds showed the value of all that time and effort in practice. The course rewards those who control their emotions, consider the fairway more important than distance and stay out of trouble. The senior golfer played a consistent game, capping a streak that saw her hit 108 at Gering and 102 in Mitchell.

“She doesn’t leave it on the course,” the coach pointed out. “She thinks about it.”

Rain on Thursday postponed the Kimball tournament, forcing three conference schools to back out due to scheduling conflicts. So Kimball’s finish will not affect conference ranking, though Delhay is convinced Merryfield’s day would have topped anyone.

“It would have been close,” he said, “but we would’ve won.”

The team played in Scottsbluff on Saturday, where they finished second in division two, then at Ogallala Monday--54 holes of golf over a long weekend.

The schedule is taking its toll, as Jones fought through a cold to compete Monday.

“Brianna’s worn out,” Delhay reported, “but hanging in there.”

Kimball participates in the Bridgeport tournament on Thursday, September 22--the last event before district play begins.