The Warriors varsity girls golf team ended their 2025 campaign as back-to-back runner-ups at the state tournament at Riverside Country Club. The team went into the tournament with some momentum, finishing first at metros and at districts.
The team ended round one with a score of 339 to put them in third place going into the final day of the tournament. Senior Addison Benge lead the way in round one with a score of 79, putting her in 6th place. Other round one performances included Kendall Lauritzen with an 81, Chloe DiPrima with an 89, Audrey Nielsen with a 90, and Lily Gutta with a 97.
Head Coach Jered Hellman shared what he saw during round one of the tournament.
“We played decently on the first day; we didn’t have our best stuff, but we battled until the end and finished strong. We ended up in third place, which some might view as a disappointment, “ Hellman said. “However, that isn’t how we operate. We had a wonderful dinner with all of our supporters and a team meeting where we discussed the season’s many accomplishments and, most importantly, prepared mentally for day two.”
The Warriors rallied together to score a 330 on day two, which put them in second place overall with a score of 669. Benge once again led the way with a score of 77. Other round two performances included DiPrima with a 79, Lauritzen with an 83, Nielsen with a 91, and Gutta with a 102.
Hellman shared his thoughts on day two of the tournament.
“The girls were amazing on the second day, from the first shot to the last. They battled all day and secured our second straight runner-up finish, capping off yet another historic season for the program,” Hellman said.
In total, Benge finished off her incredible Westside career with a score of 156 which put her in 4th place. Lauritzen finished in 16th with a score of 164. DiPrima finished with a score of 168 which put her in 18th place. Nielsen ended her season with a score of 181, and Gutta ended her career with a score of 199.
The Warriors had to face many obstacles as they pursued the title. Not only did they have to take down the powerhouse of Marian but had to face rough playing conditions. The girls still fought through and finished the tournament strong.
“Challenges face our girls with every shot—golf is not always predictable, and you have to play the ball where it lies,” Hellman said. “Add cold weather, rain, and the intense pressure of the state tournament, and the challenges become immense. We pride ourselves on battling until the last shot, and that is exactly what our Warrior girls did.“
Since Hellman took over the program in 2021, he has turned this program into a perennial power in the state in a very short time. The team has already become one of the most competitive teams in the state alongside Marian High School. With another strong season and lots of young talent they are destined to keep building this program into one of the most dominant in the state.
“In a short four years, Westside Girls Golf has risen to become one of the top programs in our state and one of the best public high school programs in the country,” Hellman said. “This success is built on love, hard work, and perseverance. Our returning girls are hungry for more, and we will continue building on what has been created to elevate our program even higher.”
Though it is hard lose incredible talent like Benge, and Gutta, the girls are returning lots of talent for next year, such as DiPrima, Lauritzen, and Nielsen. The girls will take this momentum into the offseason with only one thing on their minds, win it all.
