The Tritons’ girls golf team competed at the WIAA state championship this week, finishing sixth among all Division I schools playing this fall, as well as wrapping up the fall sports season at Notre Dame. 

The tournament was conducted at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, off-site from the usual University Ridge golf course in Verona for the first time since 2011, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Sophomore Grace Durkin led the pack for Notre Dame, finishing ninth among all golfers at the two-day tournament.

This year’s tournament was different compared to previous years, due to a rainstorm that passed through Kohler on Monday afternoon. Instead of a full thirty-six holes over two days, the girls played twenty-seven; nine on Monday and eighteen on Tuesday.

“On Monday, I definitely let the weather get to me,” Durkin said. “I kind of got down on myself and thought I was out of the running when I really wasn’t. On Tuesday, I made sure to not let the weather get to me because everyone had to deal with the same conditions so it’s fair game.”

Aside from the weather, it was still an exciting day for the Notre Dame program, who was returning to state for the first time since 2016.

“It was an amazing experience,” Durkin said. “It was everyone on varsity’s first time going, and we all enjoyed the experience together.”

Including Durkin, the team has a bright future, returning a lot of production in 2021: Emma Wolf and Belle Mae Williams, as well as Anna Gruesen.

“The program is back on its feet and will only get better from here,” Williams said.

“I think this is a step in the right direction for the program and now we have the bar set for next year and the goals we want to accomplish,” Durkin said.

For a program that once had a three-peat at the state tournament under their belt, this return to state certainly points in the direction of getting back to the top.