McNany

FOXBURG — When A-C Valley junior Cami McNany finished her round at the District 9 girls golf championships Monday at Coudersport Golf Course, she was pleased with her score.

She had no idea, though, just how good that score was.

“When I came in (teammate Allison Sherman) asked me what I shot,” McNany said. “I told her I shot an 89. She said that I was the leader in the clubhouse.”

That lead held, giving McNany an individual district title.

But McNany was most pleased with the fact that she, Sherman and Ellie Thompson finished 1-2-3 in the district and that the Falcons had captured their first District 9 golf crown as a team.

“We just wanted to win a District 9 title,” McNany said. “That was what I was focused on and what we all were focused on doing. It was something we wanted to do since we were freshmen. We wanted to finally get one.”

McNany shot a 47 on the front, but heated up on the back, shooting a 42.

“For me, personally, no, I didn't expect to win,” McNany said. “I knew it was a pretty good score. (Coach) Leo (Marron) told us to just shoot bogey golf and we'd be OK. I was just trying to do my best.”

But she felt good down the stretch, hitting well off the tee.

Now she, Sherman and Thompson will compete in the PIAA Class AA qualifier Oct. 16 at Tom's Run.

With the district title, A-C Valley advanced to the PIAA team qualifier, which will be held Oct. 12 at Treasure Lake in DuBois.

Sherman shot a 92 and Thompson a 98.

McNany had never picked up a golf club until she joined the team in the fall of her freshman year.

“I was looking for a fall sport,” McNany said, “and I though, 'I'll try golf. Why not?'”

She took the game quickly, shooting in the low 50s with some upper-40s thrown in for nine holes.

She, Thompson and Brook Irwin have all but lived at Foxburg Country Club each summer, working on their game.

“We go play three times a week, just trying to get better,” McNany said.

She said her strength is her driver. Her tee shots average around 200 yards.

Her weakness is off the links.

Also a standout softballplayer, McNany splits time in the fall between the golf course and the diamond.

“The two swings don't mix,” McNany said. “It's pretty rough sometimes playing golf and then going to play softball. My swings in both tend to get messed up sometimes.”

McNany has also worked on her mental approach to golf.

She hopes it serves her well, for bother her team and individually, in the tournaments to come.

“I just try not to get mad when I make a bad shot,” McNany said. “That's sometimes hard. But I remind myself that I can recover with my next shot.”