By Josey Morris
Four years.
Two hours a day.
Seven days a week.
Since her first year at Delta High School, senior Avery Stinson has been on the girls’ golf team.
Avery works almost every day for about one to two hours practicing her golf game, and her hard work has proven to have paid off.
Avery’s lowest score on nine holes is 39, while on 18 it is 81.
First-year girls’ golf coach Tyler Harris said one of Avery’s best qualities is her work ethic. This includes whether she’s on the course or just out there practicing.
“She comes to practice and works hard every day,” Harris said.
Along with the amount of time and effort she puts into golf, Avery must take on a major leadership role as she is the only senior on the team.
Avery’s main plan for leadership this season has been to encourage her teammates to keep playing the sport, even when it gets hard. She believes if they put in the hard work, they will succeed.
“She has helped by setting the example that I want to follow,” junior Maddie Utsler said, “and giving me someone to look up to.”
Avery has helped and inspired the other players on the team in so many different ways.
Junior Brae’Lynn Watkins said that her freshman year Avery took her under her wing and showed her what to expect and how to handle any problems or situations with the rules.
Watkins said there were times when she was either out of bounds or in a lateral hazard and was unsure of what to do, but Avery guided her.
She has shown each year her dedication and commitment to the team.
Although Avery wasn’t alone through her golf journey, she had a group of girls showing up to practice daily with her.
“I’m going to miss having a team — the energy that comes with that, and the comfort of knowing that other people have my back,” she said.
With her final time at sectionals approaching on Saturday (Sept. 21), Avery plans to soak in all of the memories, while still driving toward what she wants to accomplish.
“She’s always improving,” Utsler said. “She has never backed down.”
