Columbus East’s Amaylie Walsh watches her tee shot on the second hole during a golf match against Columbus North Tuesday at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Amaylie Walsh was one hole from finishing her round in a dual match last month at Otter Creek Golf Course when she was hit in the collarbone by an errant tee shot from a Greenwood player and had to be taken to the hospital.
But the lone senior on the Columbus East girls team was back at practice the next day, and her scores have dropped in the weeks since. She will help lead the Olympians into Monday’s Bloomington North Sectional.
“That was really scary,” Walsh said. “I was in a state of shock. After that, it was pretty sore, but I just had to keep moving. But nothing was broken, nothing even bruised, so I’m very blessed to be OK and to be able to play the next day.”
Last weekend, Walsh posted her best nine- and 18-hole scores of the season when she had a 48 on her way to a round of 103 to lead East at the Bloomington North Invitational. She was the Olympians’ No. 2 golfer with a 107 in Monday’s Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament at Hidden Creek.
“She’s been working really hard,” East coach LaDonna VanDeventer said. “Her goal was to break 100 (Monday), and she didn’t get that done, but we’re getting there.”
Columbus East’s Amaylie Walsh putts on the first hole during a golf match against Columbus North Tuesday at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Tuesday, Walsh was honored on senior night when the Olympians hosted Columbus North at Otter Creek. She tied for East’s second-best round with a 57 to help lead the Olympians to their best team score of the year and a win against the Bull Dogs.
“My scores are going down,” Walsh said. “(Tuesday) wasn’t a very good day, but that’s OK. Everybody has bad days.”
Perhaps, though, not as bad as the one that Walsh had when she was hit in the collarbone with that tee shot from the par-3 No. 8 as she was walking to No. 9 on Otter Creek’s North Nine.
“It didn’t affect my game,” Walsh said. “I’m just definitely more cautious about whenever balls are flying my way. It’s a lesson learned for both of us.”
“She showed up the next day at practice,” VanDeventer said. “It was amazing.”
Columbus East’s Amaylie Walsh watches her tee shot on the first hole during a golf match against Columbus North Tuesday at Otter Creek Golf Course.
Mike Wolanin | The Republic
Walsh was joined on the East team this year by her sister, junior Briella Walsh.
“It was very fun,” Amaylie said. “It was her first year, and I think she liked it. It’s something different, and I’m glad that I got to spend at least a season with her.”
Amaylie is planning to go into nursing or oncology. She plans to apply to Indiana University and University of Cincinnati.
Amaylie Walsh
Monday, Amaylie likely will wrap up her competitive golf career in the sectional at Cascades Golf Course, the same course where she shot her personal-best rounds a week ago.
“I’m really excited to play over there,” Walsh said. “It’s a really nice course and challenging, but it’s fun to play.”
