O-R Athlete of the Week: Annie Higgins, Peters Township
Name: Annie Higgins
Grade: Freshman
School: Peters Township
Sport: Golf
Higgins’ week: It was a pretty fun four days of golf at Penn State last week for Higgins. After competing in a practice round and two days at the PIAA individual championships, Higgins shot a one-under par round of 71 to lead Peters Township to the PIAA Class 3A girls team golf title last Wednesday at Penn State’s White Course.
Higgins and Conestoga’s Jill Burks tied for medalist honors at the event.
Peters Township had a team total of 228 and won by five shots over Conestoga.
Being a freshman, it was Higgins’ first chance to win a state title, and she was happy to help the Indians return to the top after finishing second last year.
“I had no clue during my round, because I didn’t know anyone else’s scores,” Higgins said. “I was just playing my own game, but whenever I finished I walked up to my coach (Synclaire Stoyne) and she told me that we had won it. I was in shock and I was just so happy when I found out.”
Higgins was the third player on the course for Peters Township. She felt her short game helped her have a successful day.
“My putting was the best part of my round,” Higgins said. “I had played the course three days before the team event, so I got a good feel of the greens. That really helped me a lot in getting pars and bridies.”
The course was set up a bit differently for the team tournament. On Monday and Tuesday for individuals, the course was 5,900 yards but on Wednesday it was at 5,220 yards.
“The tees were shorter than they were in the individuals, so I found the course to be playing easier, which helped a lot,” Higgins said.
Good first states: Higgins was the final qualifier from the WPIAL to make it to the individual state tournament. She made the most of her opportunity by finishing 13th in the Class 3A tournament, which was a two-round event.
“On the first day I shot 82, which was alright. I wasn’t too happy with it, but it was still a good round,” Higgins said. “The second day I shot 76, which I was really happy with. It was fun. I had my (Peters Township) teammate Betty (Glyptis) with me and we had a really good time. It was a good experience for me and I want to do it again.”
Golfing family: Higgins’ interest in golf was born from her competitive nature. Her father and older brother are avid golfers and she wanted to not only join them on the course, but beat them one day.
That goal has become a reality.
“I beat my brother a couple of times at Valley Brook and that made me really happy,” Higgins said. “I beat my dad at Mt. Lebanon Golf Course by a lot, so that made me really happy too.”
She’s been playing tournament golf for four years and credited her swing coach Dan Reilly with helping her hone her game in a short amount of time.
“He really helped me when I first started out,” Higgins said. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without him because he’s a really good coach and he’s taught me pretty much everything I know.”
Favorite club: The club Higgins enjoys hitting the most is one of her newer ones: A 3-wood she recently added to her bag.
“I’ve been hitting it really well and it’s helped me a lot on Par 5’s,” Higgins said. “I really like that club and I hit it well off the fairway and off the tee sometimes too.”
Compiled by Jerin Steele