Published: May 09, 2009 09:37 pm      

Ending in Style

Palestine senior playing in state golf tourney

By SCOTT TYLER

Sports Editor



Palestine’s Kyle Woodard remembers going to Austin when he was younger and watching Jeremy Frye, Michael Douthit and other Palestine golfers playing in the state golf tournament at Roy Kizer Golf Course.

Now it is Woodard’s turn.

The Wildcat senior ends his high school golfing career playing in the Class 3A state golf tournament at Roy Kizer Golf Course in Austin on Thursday and Friday.

“When I was little, I always pictured myself playing there,” Woodard said. “I remember those holes and watching them play.”

Woodard has state experience but this year is a will be a different game for him. As a freshman, Woodard was on hand to watch Palestine win the Class 3A state golf title at Jimmy Clay Golf Course and as a sophomore, he was on the Wildcat golf team that took second at state at Morris Williams Golf Course.

But this year, it is a different golf course and for the first time there is no team behind Woodard as he qualified as an individual.

“I never thought I would be by myself until I started this year,” Woodard said. “I would have liked for the team to have gone.”

Woodard knows a little bit about the course he is set to play on at the end of the week. The Palestine golfer has played Roy Kizer three times, including a practice round earlier this week.

“The course is very open and there is not a whole lot of trouble,” Woodard said. “My approach shots are going to have to be in the right positions.”

Woodard comes into his final high school golf tournament believing he is a smarter player after the experiences he has had the last three years.

“The mental part of my game is a lot stronger,” Woodard said. “I am playing a lot smarter, not making mistakes and I am playing with the intent to win.”

The state tournament has been on the top of Woodard’s wish list when the season started.

“I started the season intending to get to state,” the Palestine senior said. “And my goal is to win, I don’t want to come home with anything else except gold.”

Woodard has been playing strong golf on his way to the state tournament as he won the district and regional tournaments.

“Those were stepping stones to get to state,” Woodard said. “It feels great to get here and it is starting to come together.”

The District 20-3A Tournament did not start out the way Woodard wanted as he shot an 83 the first day and sat in third place. But a week later, in the second round, Woodard has he best round of the tournament, shooting a 76 to win the district title by four strokes with a 159.

“I came out that second round and just played like I know I could,” Woodard said. “I was able not to make mistakes.”

At the Class 3A-Region III Tournament in Brenham, Woodard took a first-day lead with a 72 and finished the second day with a 75 to win the tournament with a 147.

“I put myself in a position to win the first day and was able to finish it the second day,” Woodard said. “I felt great afterwards to know I was going to have the opportunity to get back to state.”