Having already broken the course record from the forward tees at Golden Oaks Golf Club, Wilson senior Kayla Maletto had no trouble playing through, as well as under, the weather on her way to a third career BCIAA girls individual golf title Tuesday.
“This course has always treated me right,” Maletto said. “There were tougher conditions today, obviously, but I would still give myself a good round for today. (Playing) under the weather and it’s raining, but I also love this course because it plays to my advantage off the tee shots.
“I like this place a lot and with how much it’s rained it’s in great shape.”
Maletto shot a 1-over 73 and defeated Exeter’s Giulia Weisser, who finished second with an 80. Weisser defeated Wilson’s Kyla Quimby in a one-hole playoff for sole possession of second.
Quimby, a sophomore, earned third following a playoff the second consecutive season.
Though the round was not as successful as the record-breaking 8-under 64 she shot in August — also while playing in the rain — Maletto had a strong score going out, posting a 2-under 34 with three birdies and a bogey on the front. Coming in, she bogeyed the 374-yard, par-5 11th, but bounced back with a birdie on the 263-yard, par-4 12th.
Despite making a bogey on the 128-yard, par-3 15th and a double bogey on the 279-yard, par-4 16th, Maletto parred the final two holes and said she was proud with the way she started the match that ultimately gave her a large enough cushion to maintain the lead.
In addition, following a birdie on No. 8, she made a precise shot on the tantalizing 90-yard, par-3 ninth that would lead to another birdie that added confidence.
“My first hole put me in a good mood and set my tone for the rest of the day,” Maletto said. “I was able to get it within 2 feet (of the pin) on the first hole with my approach. I made a birdie, which was a good start, and there’s nothing better than having a good start. It really sets the tone for me.
“On No. 9, the pin was barely off the fringe; it was it was really tough. You had to land it (right) there and I was able to hit it pin high to like a foot. So that was probably a highlight.”
Maletto, a Creighton University commit, has won each BCIAA girls individual championship she’s played in; she missed the event as a sophomore due to an injury. She also won last year’s District 3 Class 3A girls individual tournament and is the reigning Berks Female Player of the Year.
For Wilson coach Pat Howard, the victory is a nice sendoff that he hopes will be followed by more success as the postseason rolls on.
“I’m very proud of her,” Howard said. “She works so hard, like she always does, but she played well today in tough conditions and she just showed up and she posted a good score. To shoot 1-over is pretty good for 18 holes, and in the rain is phenomenal, but that’s the confidence she has in her own game and the confidence I have in her too.
“Kayla is a really special kid that I’m really lucky to know. I was actually her ninth grade math teacher, and I got to know her then and I got to watch her play golf for the four years. I remember watching her when she was a little kid up at the Manor (Golf Course) swinging a club and I’m just very lucky to be her coach because she is something special. I’m happy for her, happy she’s having a good senior year and I’m hoping it continues.”
Hamburg’s Erica Gerner finished fourth with an 82, Oley Valley’s Jessica Howard finished fifth with an 87 and Schuylkill Valley’s Abby McCaffrey was sixth with a 94.
For Maletto, the win is one of many memories she has made during her career at Wilson. And while the victories have surely been sweet, the friendships made along the way may have made all the accomplishments even more special.
“It feels awesome, honestly, it got to me a little bit on the last hole, after I made that putt; it hit me and I was like ‘Wow, this is really my last county championship ever,’ ” Maletto said. “Because I got so many memories and (made) so many friends. Honestly, that’s what I got out of it the most for the past few years, is not just playing well, but learning a lot making a lot of connections.”
