Oct. 16—EFFINGHAM — Expectations are always high for Effingham junior Ella Tuman.
Heading to the state tournament, whether as an individual or with her fellow Flaming Hearts, is always on her list before every golf season.
Tuman missed out on the state experience last year after making it as a freshman. She finished with a final round 93 at the Class 2A Taylorville Sectional, leading to even higher expectations heading into her junior year.
“I had pretty high expectations for myself before my junior season because I felt like last year, I didn’t improve as much as I wanted to, especially after not qualifying for state,” Tuman said. “My season definitely started off rocky, but after a couple of matches, I played pretty solid. I always knew I could make it individually. The only real thing in my way was my mentality. When it comes to the important matches, I start to get way too hard on myself, which always raises my score.”
Playing at Effingham Country Club this year for her sectional round, Tuman fired a final round 89 to advance.
“My sectional score definitely wasn’t my best round, but I’m happy that I made the cut even with the rough patches throughout the day,” Tuman said. “I started off with some good putts and a couple of good drives, but as the day went on, everything was just going downhill. My shots into the green had been rough all day, which never helps when trying to shoot low, but my chipping definitely kept me on track.”
Tuman played the same course six days before for her regional round and carded a final round 82, finishing in second place.
Teutopolis junior Brileigh Bloemer won low-medalist honors with a final round 81, though Tuman did give her a scare on the last hole when she hit her drive to the right side of the green and then proceeded to nearly chip in. She settled for birdie on the par-4 18th.
“I went with her on that shot because I wanted to make sure she was focused on what she was going to do there,” EHS head coach Jerry Trigg said. “We had a mark there, a spot, and I think she hit the spot. She hit it a little bit lower than she had planned, so the ball ran out pretty hard, but it hit the pin pretty solid and stopped it within ‘gimme’ range.”
The Class 1A State Final Tournament is held at Red Tail Run Golf Course and will begin on Friday.
The last time Tuman was there, she shot a final round 101, missing the cut for the second day.
Knowing what to expect and how the course plays will only help her come Friday at 10 a.m. when she is scheduled to tee off.
Tuman wants to have a round that she’s proud of more than anything, though.
“Out of this trip to state, what I want the most is to be proud of how I did,” she said. “Whether placed in the top 20 or towards the bottom, as long as I play to the best of my ability, I’ll be happy with the outcome.”
That attitude has always stuck with Tuman since she first sported an Effingham polo.
“She always has a positive attitude and that’s No. 1 in golf,” Trigg said. “You have to be able to move on even when things may not be going as you had hoped.”
Tuman said she’s been playing golf for the last six years.
Her obsession to improve didn’t truly start until high school.
“I’ve been playing golf for six years, but I really started to work on my game at the beginning of my freshman year,” Tuman said. “My dad’s the reason why I started playing golf — he is the main reason I still play today. I look up to my dad when it comes to golf because he has pushed me to focus and get better.”
No Hearts golfer was more focused than Tuman this past year.
Missing out on a goal will do that.
“I think she was a little more focused this year, trying to make it,” Trigg said. “Maybe she put a little too much pressure on herself to get through, but she was still able to overcome her jitters and make some good swings and some good putts when she needed to. I was very proud of how she bounced back from being disappointed last year to being able to do it this year.”
Tuman also continued Trigg’s streak by qualifying for the state tournament.
In the years Trigg has coached the girls golf team, only one season has ended before the state tournament. Trigg has sent an individual or a team to the final weekend of the year in 17 of the 18 seasons he’s been at the helm.
“I think I’ve been blessed to have a solid player every year and sometimes have that player for three or four years, like Ella,” Trigg said.
Alex Wallner can be reached at 618-510-9231 or alex.wallner@effinghamdailynews.com.
