Freshman gets career off to a rousing start
Hailee Cooper was 6 years old when she began playing golf on April Sound’s course in Montgomery, so she was well-prepared by the time she reached Montgomery High School. Her success came quickly. Cooper helped the Bears win district and finish third at the regional tournament, and she won the district, regional and Class 6A individual titles — all in her freshman season. Cooper tied for 10th at the prestigious Thunderbird International Junior tournament in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Q: Did you expect to have so much success in your first year of high school?
A: I wanted to help my team, of course, and I was really excited to play in all these tournaments. It’s different because you’re on a team now, so you play for other people, too. You don’t just play for yourself. So you have to think more about that. I really liked it this year because a team atmosphere is really fun.
Q: How big was it for you to help your team win the District 15-6A title at Lake Windcrest Golf Club in Magnolia?
Q: How did you think you’d do at your first state tournament?
A: There are a lot of good players there and I’m friends with a lot of them, like the girls from Lake Travis. I knew it was going to be hard, so I just wanted to go out and play my best. I was playing one, so my job was to take out their No. 1. So that was what I was trying to do — make their score not as even.”
Q: Had you played the state course before?
A: We were supposed to play the UT Golf Club, and I really like that course, but they moved it to Legacy Hills in Sun City, in Georgetown. We went there and played it once before, in our practice round, and I really liked it. I went out and played it really well, and it was in good shape.
Q: You fired a 68 on Day 1 at state. What went right for you that first round?
A: My ball striking was really solid. I was hitting all the fairways, and on that course, there’s a stretch of four or five holes where you have to hit the fairway or you’re in the water or you’re in the trees. So it’s pretty tight. I hit my driver really well on those holes, and that’s what helped in that round.
Q: How nerve-wracking was it trying to hold the lead on Day 2?
A: After the first nine, I wasn’t playing great. I wasn’t hitting the ball well and I wasn’t putting well, and (Lake Travis’) Kaitlyn (Papp) was playing great. And I just remember making the turn thinking, ‘OK, if you’re not going to win individually, then let’s try to help the team get higher.’ That’s what I was trying to do anyways, but that’s what I really focused on. I didn’t know how the other girls were doing, so I wanted to amp it up. Then I heard the other girls were doing well, so I was like, ‘OK.’ Then I parred 10 through 16 and birdied 17, and that made it a little easier going into 18.
Q: What was your reaction when you knew you’d won?
A: It was great because my team was there supporting me, and I think they were more excited than I was. But I was so excited. It didn’t really hit me until after, in the car, and we were all crying because our seniors were leaving, so then it really hit me. But it was awesome. It was a great experience and I hope to do it again — three more times.