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Hanna Wolf has been golfing since a young age, and has competed for Ulysses High School for four years.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise since her dad, Jack Wolf is a golf coach. And it’s no surprise that Hanna represented Ulysses High School at the Class 4A state tournament in Hesston last week.
Hanna competed at state as a sophomore and missed out by two strokes this year.
“I have been golfing for about four years now, but I was first introduced to the sport by my dad at a young age, just messing around having fun,” Hanna said. “It wasn't until the summer before my freshman year I started to take the sport seriously, playing with my sister and dad a lot more, finding more love and passion for the sport.”
Wolf finished her state run October 22, tied for 34th place with Brooke Johnson of Hays after shooting a 100 on the first day of the state tournament. Wolf improved on the second day with a 96. Johnson shot 102-94 to ease into the tie with Wolf.
Addison Douglass of Wamego rolled to the state title with a 70-72 — 142, 10 strokes ahead of second place Lilli Sympson of Winfield.
Wolf, who shot 86 at the Ulysses regional, one stroke behind regional champion and defending state runner-up Lexi Blasi of Pratt, finished middle-of-the-pack after the first day of state with a 100.
Hanna’s coach dad said the conditions on the first day of the tournament were cool and windy, which led to a round of 100 over 18 holes.
“My first day it was a struggle,” Hanna said. “I was definitely more nervous than I was the second day. The two clubs that I usually hit when I’m really good at, they just weren’t working for me and it made it a struggle but my chipping and putting was pretty good.”
Her coach/dad Jack Wolf said the conditions were a lot nicer the second day.
“We started off really well,” Jack Wolf said. “Her first 12 holes she was 11 over, rolling along,” he said. “And then we had a couple bad holes. It’s a mind game, and we were maybe 14 or 15 over on the last six holes.”
But as the lone Ulysses representative in a field of 92 it was a great experience.
“I have been to state once before, my sophomore year,” Hanna added. “My freshman year I missed state by six strokes shooting a 111, my sophomore year I shot a 102 making it to state, following that my junior year I shot a 107 missing state by just two strokes.
“This year at regionals I shot a 86, placing second overall missing first place by just one stroke.”
Having her dad as the head coach through high school meant a little extra work out on the course.
“Having my dad as a coach has been an emotional, heartwarming experience,” Hanna said. “I feel that without my dad as my coach I wouldn't have taken golf as serious. He has kept me motivated, pushed me to play my best, and never stops believing in me. I couldn't have possibly had a better experience in these four short years.”
Hanna said that her ultimate goal has been to continuously get better than the day before, to always move forward never backwards. She said her mindset heading to state was strong and clear so she could play the best she could while at the same time having fun.
Hanna added she doesn’t necessarily want to golf at the collegiate level.
“I don’t know if I want to go to college and do all my schoolwork while trying to maintain golf and a job,” Hanna said.
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