University of Houston Women’s Golf sophomore Maddy Rayner fell just short in the WTGA State Amateur Championship title match on Aug. 7, according to YourHoustonNews.com. The former Dragon dropped a 3 and 2 decision to Annika Clark at the competition held at Waco's Ridgewood Country Club.
"I played really solid golf," Rayner said. "I'm not mad with how I played atbrall. All I could have done was had more of a steady short game while I was outbrthere. I've been working really hard on my wedges and my putting to get myselfbrimproved. Hopefully next year when this rolls around again I can find myself inbrthe championship again."
The score was even through two holes before Clark picked up the win on three straight holes, and Rayner couldn't catch up. Overall, Rayner had a good experience.
"The WTGA runs really good events; really good tournaments," she said. "Theybrtake care of the players really well, which is a big thing for me. I heard aboutbrit through teammates. My set going through stroke play to match play wasbrdifficult to transition. I had to keep myself centered for sure."
Rayner won four straight matches during the previous three days to capture a spot in the championship match. She was seeded fifth before the tournament began.
"I noticed inbrthat first match I let myself get down a little bit," she recalled. "I was 3 down on 15 and I had to win 4 holes in a row to get the win on that match. After Ibrdid that I remember thinking, 'I have this, I can do this. I can play match play.' [It] made the next three matches easier to go into. It gave me more of a, 'Ibrknow what to do. I've got this.' I got to the championship match and the girl just played fantastic."
Rayner's golf career started her freshman year of high school when she grew tired of other sports she played. She recalled sitting on the range with her father, watching him drive balls out into the distance. Picking up the game was quick for her, and she spent about 35 hours a week each summer to perfect her game. She ended up ranked No. 63 by Golfweek as a high school senior and eventually chose the University of Houston.
In her first year of collegiate play, Rayner competed in five tournaments with three rounds of par or better. The overall lifestyle transition was a bit tough for her, she said.
"That first semester was really stressful making the switchbrfrom high school to college with schedule changes and how everything's done," said Rayner. "I lovebrthe team. I love both coaches. They're all about golf. That's what I wasbrlooking for in college. I've met my match and I'm where I'm supposed to be. I lovebrthat place."
Rayner said she's a typical golf student, hoping to stay close to golf the rest of her life; either playing professionally or doing something with marketing and/or communications. She's grateful to the folks back at home for all of the support over the years.
"I don't think I would've gotten as far as I did without thebrpeople I've met in my life," she said. :Through all the good and bad that's happened to me,breverything that's happened here has molded me into who I am. I want to givebrthanks to everybody and say I love them all for what they've done for me."
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