LEXINGTON — It’s a good thing Lexington girls golf coach Michael Kathrein wasn’t planning to tinker with anyone’s swing mechanics this week.
Mother Nature has largely conspired against Lady Lex in its preparation for this weekend’s Division II state tournament.
The two-day, 36-hole showcase event tees off Friday at Ohio State’s Gray Course in Columbus and concludes Saturday.
Lexington will be making its first ever state tournament appearance after finishing second at last week’s district tournament at Sycamore Springs Golf Course in Arlington. Lady Lex shot a team total of 364, 10 strokes behind district champ Huron.
This week’s run-up to the state tournament hasn’t gone exactly according to Kathrein’s plan.
“The weather hasn’t cooperated this week, but at this point in the season there is not much left to do physically,” Kathrein said. “We weren’t going to re-invent the wheel overnight. I didn’t plan to change anyone’s swing or anything like that.
“At this point, it’s all mental.”
Lady Lex is scheduled for a practice round Thursday. Kathrein also might be able to offer a little insider information.
“I worked at the course for a year in college,” he said. “I have a little experience on the course.”
If Lady Lex is nervous about its maiden voyage to the state tournament, it didn’t show Wednesday. The players exuded an easy confidence as they played Pebble Creek’s front nine in blustery conditions.
“We’re pretty business like,” Courtney Thompson said. “We expect to go down there and play well.
“We’re confident, but not overly confident.”
Lady Lex is led by senior Alex Sazdanoff, the Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year. Thompson, Abby Conover, Natasha Mack and Savannah Cinadr round out the state lineup.
Chemistry is perhaps Lexington’s most valuable asset heading to Columbus.
“We all get along really well,” Conover said. “We’ve taken a lot of two-hour rides in the Suburban together.
“Coach actually banned us from singing on those rides because he says it doesn’t get us ready to golf. I think we play better if we’re not too focused.”
Lady Lex’s focus has been tested this week. Well-wishers have come from all directions.
“The kids at school and the teachers are really excited for us,” Cinadr said. “Of course, our families are definitely happy that we made it.”
Those distractions will pale in comparison to what awaits Lady Lex on Friday. Lexington tees off on No. 10 at 9:56 a.m.
“There is going to be a lot of people out there watching Friday morning,” Kathrein said. “There is nothing I can say or do to prepare them for the first tee.
“These girls are focused. They are going down there with the expectation of playing well.”
“We’re pretty business like,” Courtney Thompson said. “We expect to go down there and play well. We’re confident, but not overly confident.”
