By Theo Tate
A year ago, Kelsie Weir qualified for the sectional tournament for the first time.
Weir shot a 102 in the Class AA regional tournament at Spencer T. Olin Golf Course in Alton to earn a trip to the sectional tournament at the University of Illinois.
Today, the Triad senior is setting her sights on going back to sectionals.
Weir and the Knights will be playing in the Class AA regional tournament at Salem Country Club in Salem.
"I'm really looking forward to playing in regionals," said Weir, who is one of three seniors on the team. "I went there and practiced on Wednesday (Oct. 1) and I went there again on Sunday, so I'm really trying to get a feel for the course and see how I can do. I really want to make it to sectionals."
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Also looking to qualify for sectionals for the second year in a row is junior Catherine Robinson. Robinson shot a 94 in last year's regional tournament to advance to sectionals for the first time.
Last week, Weir earned her first Mississippi Valley Conference tournament medal after finishing 10th in the conference tournament at Belk Park Golf Course in Wood River with an 18-hole score of 94.
"It's really nice to get a medal," said Weir, who shot a 48 on the front nine and a 46 on the back. "It's a privilege to get one. It was an OK day, but I didn't play my best. Sometimes it felt like maybe I shouldn't have gotten a medal, but it's always nice to get one."
Weir also helped the Knights finish second in the conference tournament. Triad shot a four-player score of 364 and Highland won the tournament with a 345.
"I was really proud of how our girls played," Triad coach Darrell Butler said. "I thought the course was set up fair and I thought our girls had a good shot and shot some low scores. Highland has a great program and it had some girls who shot some low scores as well, so we came in second.
"Overall, it was a great performance by our team. We've come so far in the last couple of years. They're really playing as a team now. They're really enjoy being around each other and that makes it that much more fun."
Weir was one of three Triad players who earned medals at the conference tournament. Junior Lauren Abrahamson finished third with an 85 and Robinson placed fourth with an 87.
"It was a good day for Lauren and Catherine," Weir said.
Butler said he was pleased with the way Abrahamson performed at the league tournament.
"Lauren worked really hard in her putting skills and try to make sure she didn't three-putt very often in the match," Butler said. "She was really focused on what she needed to do."
Triad placed third with a 335 in the boys conference tournament on Thursday at Belk Park. Sophomore Jimmy Konsky finished with a team-best 78, firing a 39 on both the front and back nine.
The Knights were scheduled to compete in the Class 2A regional tournament at Centralia on Tuesday.