Creston/Orient-Macksburg’s two girls golf standouts may have different personalities.
What they share in common is a desire to do their best each and every time they step foot on a golf course, whenever that may be.
The efforts of juniors Ashton Carter and Sophia Groumoutis have powered the Panthers back to state for the second consecutive season.
Creston/Orient-Macksburg tees it up at the Class 4A girls state golf tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. both days at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown.
Carter can be more focused, while Groumoutis is more easy going.
“Both add their own little dimensions to the team,” said Creston/Orient-Macksburg coach Jon Thomson. “Ashton is a little more get down, get serious. Sophia’s a little looser. It’s a great combination.”
Groumoutis’ skill helps Carter out.
“Having someone like Sophia is really nice. It helps our team out,” Carter said.
Carter does the same for Groumoutis.
“Ashton has worked with a pro before so she knows a lot more with the game, helps me with the rules,” Groumoutis said.
In turn, they return advice to each other.
“I’ll give her pointers and she’ll give me pointers,” Groumoutis said.
Added Carter: “We help each other out, help keep each other going.”
Both have helped the others out significantly.
“Ashton’s helped me a lot with my play. She’ll stand behind me and give me pointers on what I’m doing,” said Sadie Green. “With Sophia, I look a lot and see what shes does and try to do it myself or try to make corrections based on she’s doing.”
Carter and Groumoutis are role models for the others.
“I look up to them a lot, especially since they keep the scores close,” said freshman Sydney Hartsock. “I’ve been trying to lower them, do what they do. They’ve helped me a lot with my technique and form. It helps us out a lot.”
The two willingly help make the team better, which has helped the Panthers back to state.
“They’re really encouraging,” said sophomore Taylor Buxton. “It’s nice to have them on the team to help you out.”
The two are joined by senior Hayley Osmun, the team’s lone senior.
Green, Hartsock and Buxton, who returned in time for the postseason after a knee injury last fall, make up the team.
Both Carter and Groumoutis qualified for state individually, based on their second and third-place finishes respectively at last Monday’s Class 4A regional meet in Adel.
Once again, they will have company with their teammates.
“To go back is such an amazing experience go individually and as a team,” Carter said. “We would not be there without them. It’s amazing to make it as a team.”
Chemistry is a strong point of this season’s Panthers team.
“We all stick together, try to play the same game,” Hartsock said. “It’s pretty cool. We’re all a pretty tight group. It makes everything better.”
Elmwood’s setup suits the Panthers well, as compared with Coldwater Creek Golf Links in Ames where last year’s Class 4A state meet was held.
The Panthers will have their first look at Elmwood today as a team.
But Thomson noted the layout is something similar to what the Panthers see every day.
“Elmwood is like a bigger version of Crestmoor,” Thomson said. “It’s a shorter course. There’s a lot of mature trees. It won’t be anything unusual for the girls.”
A key for the Panthers will be to play within themselves.
“We want to treat it like any other tournament played it and try not to emphasize we’re at state,” Thomson said. “Hopefully we can relax and play the game of golf these girls know how to play.”
Steady, solid rounds in Marshalltown will help the team.
“You look on TV and those scores, a two under might win it or five over,” Thomson said. “We want to go out and play the best golf we can and see how that lays out with the rest of the girls.”
“If the girls watch their own game, they will be fine.”