WEST LAFAYETTE – Central Catholic golfer Sophia Royer had a vision when she stepped onto the campus as a freshman.
The game of golf is Royer’s passion.
Whether it was swinging and playing scrambles with her family or walking alone on a course, hearing the barking of squirrels in the background and hearing the swishing sound her driver made after driving a ball into the sky and onto soft, green fairway.
For all the love Royer had as a player, she also wanted to compete as the member of a team and compete for a sectional championship. When she walked onto campus that late summer of 2021, there was no girls golf team to be found.
“We hadn’t had a team in five years before I got here,” Royer said now competing in the 2024 IHSAA Sectional Championships at Coyote Crossing Golf Club. “I put my trust in God. Trust that he has a plan and I’m so proud of our girls. We’ve worked so hard.”
Royer’s passion and voice resonated with her student body as a freshman. She managed to recruited five seniors during her freshman year, all of whom had never played golf before.
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There wasn’t a history of success either for Central Catholic whose lone girls golf sectional title was captured back in 1995.
For three years Royer played rounds, gave speeches and helped created a culture through competitive friendships that made her classmates want to return the next year. While no titles were won, it was the passion and drive of Royer that kept Knights’ golf thriving and afloat.
Finally as a senior, Royer and her group broke through.
Royer shot a 96 while Central Catholic with Halle Bogan, Lilly Frey, Claire Lewis and Caroline Schwartz combined for an overall score of 412 on Monday. The score cemented Central Catholic as the third and final team that qualified for the IHSAA Regional Championship being held at Battle Ground Golf Club this Saturday.
A feat that the left-handed Royer herself envisioned all along. She drew hugs and applause from her teammates. A team effort no doubt, but a team that would’ve have existed if not for the passion and competitive determination of Royer.
“Our team being together was the highlight for us,” Royer said. “I’m so proud of our team and it makes it so fun.”
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at ehanson@jconline.com, on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: How passion for golf by Sophia Royer inspired team at Central Catholic
