Seymour senior is wrapping up four-year varsity career on the links

August 22, 2018

When it comes to playing a golf match at Shadowood Golf Course, Kara Rice said the front nine is her favorite.

“Definitely the front nine because it’s a lot shorter,” the Seymour High School senior said. “It takes less time than the back.”

Her best score at Shadowood is a 44, and her best 18-hole score is 100 at Hidden View in Clarksville.

She scored 105 in the Seymour Invitational at the beginning of the season.

“Shadowood is a lot flatter than a lot of other courses, so you can see where you are going, and you can see your ball very clearly, so I like that,” Rice said.

At Shadowood, all pin placements are in the same position on the greens each day, and Rice said she uses that information to her advantage.

“It gets a lot more important once you get closer to the greens,” she said. “You can kind of see it, but if you can’t see it very clearly, it helps to know if it’s in front, back or middle.”

Rice enjoys hitting off of the tee.

“I’d probably say my drives are my strongest part for distance,” Rice said. “My chipping was really good (against Jennings County), but it’s been on and off. My putting has been good. An 8- or 10-footer is a little bit shaky. Sometimes, it’s a good one, but if not, it’s only off by a couple inches usually.”

Rice said the area she wants to improve is her short game.

She says Covered Bridge is her favorite away course, and she prefers nine-hole matches over 18s.

Rice says you need to work hard during practice.

“Practice is very important,” she said. “I just try to come out here as much as I can to keep improving my game and keep it where it’s at. I played in a lot of tournaments during the summer, and I also came out here and practiced two or three times during the week.

“I want to start shooting in the low 80s on an 18-hole match and just keep improving my game and have fun. I only think about the shot that I’m on because if you think about past shots that were bad or something, it will ruin your whole round.”

Rice, who began her golf career in seventh grade, has been in the Owls’ varsity lineup for four years.

She enjoys playing the No. 4 position.

“I like it. There’s not too much stress on you like a lot of the other girls,” Rice said. “It keeps everything about just having fun instead of causing too much stress.

“My best friend plays. We go out a lot, and it’s good because we can talk while we’re playing, and we can try to improve while we’re just hanging out.”

The sectional will be played at Otis Park in Bedford.

“It’s a little bit more challenging, a lot more hilly than here,” Rice said. “I still like playing there and everything. As long as you can get it up and over those hills, then you’re good to go.”

She has enjoyed attending SHS.

“I love that they have those (dual credit courses) for me to take,” Rice said. “It will help me save a lot of money in college and just help me so I can get out earlier. I love the staff. I have a lot of the teachers that I know personally, so it’s very nice that I can ask them questions, and they’re always willing to answer.

“I’m going to enjoy all the friendships I’ve made and just playing with different girls from different schools. I’ve gotten to know some of them pretty well.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Rice file” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Kara Rice

School: Seymour High School

Parents: DonJay Rice and Kalisa Rice

Sibling: Kirsten

Sport: Golf, four years

Organizations: National Honor Society, student government, Riley Dance Marathon committee

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