Lady Jays golf team features veterans, newcomers

Brooke Thompson of Jefferson City hits a chip shot during last year's Capital City Invitational at Jefferson City Country Club.
Brooke Thompson of Jefferson City hits a chip shot during last year's Capital City Invitational at Jefferson City Country Club.

It's an interesting mix of veterans and youth.

The Jefferson City Lady Jays golf team has three players with a lot of time on the varsity and another upperclassman ready to step in. But the other five on the roster are all freshmen as Jefferson City prepares to start the season this morning at the Warrensburg Invitational.

"Things have been going well," Lady Jays coach Randy Bickel said. "Up until this week, we've had some great weather to practice in, and we've gotten a lot accomplished."

The veteran group is led by Brooke Thompson, the lone senior on the team.

"She had a very good junior year and had a great summer," Bickel said. "She's in control of her game."

As a junior, Thompson won the Capital City Invitational and district tournament titles and finished 10th in the Class 2 state tournament. This summer, Thompson was one of just five girls from around the state selected represent Missouri in the Southern States Junior Cup in Cape Girardeau.

"She's expecting a fantastic senior year and I'm expecting a fantastic senior year out of her," Bickel said. "She is tournament-ready."

Ellie Severance and Blair Michael joined Thompson on the team that claimed the district tournament title. Severance finished 19th at districts, while Michael tied for 23rd. Both are juniors.

They will be joined by fellow junior Claire Shipley in giving Jefferson City four solid players to build around this season.

"They all worked hard and made progress over the summer," Bickel said. "I'm looking for good things out of them."

Those four are going to carry the load early this season. Varsity teams normally field five golfers for events, but Jefferson City is only going have four for the first week or two.

"I don't want to put any of the freshmen out there if I don't think they're ready," Bickel said. "That would be counterproductive for their development this early in the season.

"But within the next couple of weeks, I am fully confident there will be a couple of young ladies vying for the No. 5 spot."

Bickel has gone to the basics with his young players.

"Learning the golf swing, learning to hit the ball," he said. "Maybe we'll get to direction soon.

"But they are making great progress, and I think they're starting to learn that this is a very difficult game."

Guiding a young team through the paces is nothing new for Bickel.

"Each year, I keep thinking I won't have to retool as much," he said. "We're just in one of those cycles where we have a lot of youth, for whatever reason."

The Lady Jays should be in the mix to repeat as district tournament team champions.

"We just need to continue to make the improvements that we've been making each day," Bickel said. "I think we could even go further than we did last year in the postseason."

Bickel said the schedule is about the same as last year.

"Toward the end of the season, we're going to cut back on the tournament and matches so we can be ready for the district tournament," Bickel said. "By that time, we can probably use that time better practicing."

Jefferson City is bidding to host the district tournament.