Carly Guthmiller hits hole in one at state tournament

For Groton Area senior Carly Guthmiller, this week’s state tournament was the final chapter of her high school career. After tying for 12^th a year ago at the state ‘A girls tournament, she was hoping this year could be something special as well.

After the opening round on Monday, Guthmiller sat tied for 18^th with a score of +13. With only Tuesday remaining, she had just one final chance to put a stamp on her legacy.

Because of weather, the ‘A’ girls tournament went with a shotgun start for round two. Guthmiller started in the middle portion of the front nine. As the day progressed, she eventually made it to the No. 11 tee box.

Guthmiller reached into her bag, pulled out her five-iron, and took aim at the short par 3 pin.

“The sky had been kind of overcast, so every time it went in the sky, I could see it, I’d watch it hit the green, but you’d just lose it right away. It was so hard to see because of the lighting,” told Guthmiller. “I hit it right of the green, it bounced onto the green, and I was like “alright, it’s on the green, I can pick up my tee,” And then everyone just started going crazy, because it went in, but I didn’t see it, because of the lighting.”

A hole-in-one during the final round of her high school career. It’s a situation that is purely a dream for most, but for Guthmiller, it’s now a reality.

“It’s crazy to me. It’s definitely a big deal being at the state tournament and it’s my senior year. I just wanted to go out with a good score,” she said. “I wasn’t focused on getting a hole-in-one. It’s just really crazy to me. I’m still in disbelief. I can’t believe that it happened.”

Along with hitting a hole in one, Guthmiller also picked up momentum the rest of the way. She shot just three-over par after the hole in one, which included the remainder of the back-nine, and the few holes that she had to finish on the front-nine, due to the shotgun start.

Her solid play down the stretch placed her into the Top-10 at eighth place for the tournament

“I just feel like I did something right. This season for me was ok, but last year as a junior, everything and my clubs, it all just clicked with me. I was trying to tie it into this season. I wasn’t very consistent this season, but once I got to regions, I knew I could play better. To place top-10, shoot in the 70’s, that was the topper for me – and the hole in one.”

Next year, Guthmiller will attend Northern State University in Aberdeen where she’ll pursue a degree in business.