PUTT PAST THE COMPETITION GOLF TEAMS BY BREAKING BUILDS COMMUNITY RECORDS WORDS Luke Theisen I I PHOTOS Jeff Montgomery Freshman Kiera Smith started her college golf career at Northeastern State niversity Women's Classic on Sept. 11-12, 2017. Smith finished 12th overall out of 89 athletes and played a major part in securing Harding's ninth place finish out of l7 teams. ''.As I'm playing in more tournaments, I'm finding out more of what my expectation is, and this is the next step up how I can push myself to get better," Smith said. "Because I don't want to just [achieve] the expectation, I want to exceed [it]. I think it's taking me time to figure out, 'If this is what I'm shooting, then I really want to push to get this score."' For Smith, however, this type of success was familiar territory. Since joining the golf team at Heritage Christian Academy in seventh grade, Smith competed in six state championships, claimed two state championships her sophomore and junior year and finished sixth her senior year. Harding golf coach Dustin Howell said that each year the Great American Conference awarded a freshman of the year, and his hope for Kiera Smith was that she challenged for that award. "I love having freshmen contributing to the team's success in their first year," Howell said. "Kiera is a practice warrior and has brought an amazing focus and dedication to her game and it has challenged and elevated the other ladies on the team to get better. She will be a fouryear contributor to the Lady Bisons and continue to build up our women's golf program." For Smith, the difference between the Lady Bisons and other golf teams was the relationships they built together. "On a lot of teams, because it's an individual and team sport, when the girls are qualifying, they're hoping the other girls don't play well because they want to qualify and beat them in tournaments," Smith said. "So coming here and seeing [other] girls are genuinely happy for me and proud of me for [playing well is] just a really nice feeling compared to what a lot of other teams are like." Lady Bisons assistant coach Loren Cheatham felt Smith added to the dynamic of the team. "She has made great friendships with the girls, and it is always great to see her being included in the upperclassmen's social lives," Cheatham said. "On the course, because of her great attitude, she has been a great encourager to her teammates and always wanting to know how they are doing throughout a tournament. [[his] team of girls has been one of the best for Harding in the last few years, and they are here to challenge each other and those in our conference." On May 8, 2017, sophomore Cooper Dur.n prepares to putt the ball at the Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Nebraska. Harding finished in 15th place at the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional Tournament.// Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Senior Juan Luis Sanchez places his golf ball carefully on the grass before he swings at the Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Nebraska. He tied for 90th place overall at the NCAA Central/Midwest Regional Tournament. // Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Freshman Kiera Smith works to improve her swing at a golf practice at the Searcy Country Club Golf Course on Aug. 28, 2017. Her best ranking this season was when she placed fifth at the Lady Panther Fall Tournament in Bolivar, Missouri. // Photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery -
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