Senior Kaitlyn Neel talks over a shot with coach Angela Chancellor during a tournament at Kingwood Country Club on March 11. (Maya Ortiz)
Senior Kaitlyn Neel talks over a shot with coach Angela Chancellor during a tournament at Kingwood Country Club on March 11.

Maya Ortiz

Meet the girls golf team

March 22, 2023

Leah Torres

Grade: 11

Junior Leah Torres prepares to move onto the next hole during a tournament at Kingwood Country Club on March 11. (Maya Ortiz)

What’s your favorite club? 

“My hybrid. It’s pretty consistent, which is more than I can say for like 90% of my other clubs.”

What is your favorite course?

“I really like the Marsh Course because there’s a lot of dog legs, so you really have to focus on where you’re hitting. Everyone hates it, so it’s always empty.”

What is your warmup routine? 

“For our high school tournaments, normally I go with the gals on to the range and we just hit golf balls and see if it’s going to be a good day or a bad day. And after I’m done crying from hitting on the range, normally I go to putt to feel the green. You find out how fast it’s going to be for the day. Maybe chipping if I’m  feeling up for it. And then I go take a bathroom break because we are walking and those restrooms are nasty.”

What do you like to eat or snack on during the tournaments? 

“I like the organic gummy bears, even though there’s only like five in the bag. So I go through them and also crunchy rollers, which are like rice cakes. Also, I eat my feelings when I’m playing bad, so I just go through that snack bag.”

What’s your favorite breakfast from Whataburger?

“I love honey butter chicken biscuits. Every time I go to play a tournament — high school or not — I get a honey butter chicken biscuit with the hash browns and an orange juice.”

What do you do to prepare for the tournament the night before? 

“I clean my clubs and my grips. I have weird grips. Most of the time they’re sticky. But mine are like hard, so they’re slippery. They’re not good. So I have to clean those, clean the clubs, clean out my bag, get my clothing ready and then sleep.”

Who’s favorite professional player? 

“Rory McIlroy, because he’s Irish and because Niall Horan from One Direction caddied for him one time, which is pretty cool. So that’s why he’s my favorite.”

 

Grace Toppass

Grade: 12

What’s your favorite club?

Senior Kaitlyn Neel selects her club during a tournament in March at Kingwood Country Club. (Bailey Hall)

I love using my seven. It’s just really versatile. 

What is your favorite course?

The Woodlands panther trail course is so pretty and I love playing it. It’s hard but it’s beautiful. 

What is your warmup routine? 

I try to exercise, hit at least 5 balls every other club I’m going to use. Just from my tiniest swing to my biggest swing. Just to make sure it’s all warmed up and ready to go. 

What do you like to eat or snack on during the tournaments? 

Goldfish or crackers and drink so much water, I just need salt. 

What’s your favorite breakfast from what-a-burger?

Their taquitos, I have a love relationship with What-a-Burgers Taquitos. It’s not health but it’s ok.  

What do you do to prepare for the tournament the night before? 

I try to go to bed early. At that point that’s all you can do and not stress about it and try to get as much rest. 

Who’s favorite professional player? 

We got to work at the Insperity course over the summer for a tournament, but I got to see John Daly play. I know he is a very popular one and everyone loves him. But oh my gosh it was just so cool to see someone that great play in person. 

 

Kaitlyn Neel

Grade: 12

What’s your favorite club?

“Driver, I hit it the best. I’m one of the longest drivers on the whole team, I think.”

What is your favorite course?

Augusta National, where the Masters is held. I’ve never played it but it is a beautiful golf course.”

What is your warmup routine? 

“I only hit four clubs, my driver and one of my irons — it depends on the day. Then, I putt some and I chip some, just to get everything warmed up.”

What do you like to eat or snack on during the tournaments? 

“I honestly like grainy foods during tournaments. I don’t like the fruit snacks, more like Cheez-Its.” 

What’s your favorite breakfast from Whataburger?

“Breakfast from Whataburger would have to be the sausage and biscuit sandwich and a Coke.”

What do you do to prepare for the tournament the night before? 

“I take a long shower to help me relax because before tournaments because I get anxious. So I take a long shower and get lots of sleep.”  

Camille Blair

Grade: 12

What’s your favorite club?

Senior Camille Blair signed to play golf at Anderson University next year. (Bailey Hall)

“I like the one on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Because it is eight miles to go around the island, so I don’t know how they fit two golf courses on an itty bitty island, but they’re really fun and they’re really pretty to play.”

What is your favorite club?

“I kind of like my nine iron, just because that one is kind of my go to if nothing else is working.”

What is your warmup routine? 

“I start off with my nine iron and then I kind of just work through my other irons, and then I hit my driver. Sometimes I’ll hit one of my hybrids if I’m feeling like it’s going to be a good day.”

What do you like to eat or snack on during the tournaments? 

“So (the coach) has like this big bag of snacks and stuff. I like the little gummy bears that she has. The organic gummy bears. Because those are so good. They don’t taste like other gummies that you eat.”

What’s your favorite breakfast from Whataburger?

“The honey butter chicken biscuit. I get the meal with hash browns. And then I also get a Root Beer.”

What do you do to prepare for the tournament the night before? 

“I clean my golf bag because trash just kind of collects in there. I don’t want to be a person to pull something out and then all of a sudden, there’s, like, so many bags just falling out. So I clean up my bag, and then I make sure I have all my clothes together.”

Who’s favorite professional player? 

“Aaron Baddeley. He’s not really well known, but he gave me a golf ball when I was really little.”

 

Courtney Daniel

Grade: 10

Sophomore Daniel Daniel talks with coach Angela Chancellor during a tournament at Kingwood Country Club in March. (Maya Ortiz)

What’s your favorite club? 

“I would probably say my eight iron.”

What is your favorite course?

“I really like The Lake Course in Kingwood, I love the scenery. That’s the one I like to play with my friends, it’s also like an emotional thing, like an attachment.”

What is your warmup routine? 

“I kind of just get out and take a few shots on the range, putt around a little bit. My coach won’t want to hear this part, but I don’t like to stress about it. I kind of just like to show up and feel it out, see what’s going on and do my own thing.”

What do you like to eat or snack on during the tournaments? 

“My coach has these things called Crunchy Rollers, and they’re like these puffed rice cakes. They are so good, I love them so much. I also do these drink mixes, so drink mixes and Crunchy Rollers are what I go to.”

What do you do to prepare for the tournament the night before? 

“I like to meditate a little bit. I’ll do this like a guided exercise, it’s kind of like destress. I like to remember that I’m doing it because I enjoy it and I’m out there because I’m having fun. Even if I’m about to start playing badly, I mean you’re playing golf, that’s what my dad says. He says ‘any day on the golf course is a good day.'” 

Who’s favorite professional player? 

John Daly. I like the energy he has. If you haven’t picked it up yet, I just like to do what I like to do; and John Daly, he just goes out and has a fun time.”

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