On Oct. 22, junior Brooke Biermann became the new Missouri Class Two Girls Golf State Champion. She finished with a score of 74 in the first round of the tournament and 69 in the second round.

Last year, Biermann placed second in the same tournament. This year, she won with a two-stroke lead over former State Champion Megan Propeck of Notre Dame de Sion in Kansas City. Biermann finished the tournament one under par.

“I’m super proud of Brooke and super excited for her too. She works very hard, and she deserved the win. She’s just a great person overall,” Activities Director Jon Sumner said.

Varsity girls golf is coached by math teacher Katrina Clark.

“Brooke is extremely hard-working,” Clark said. “Often time, after practice, she will go out and practice more or go to the gym and work out. She does it because she wants to be the best and she showed it this year at state without a doubt.”

Biermann had one minor change this year: a different coach. Clark was on maternity during the tournament, so assistant coach Chris Lofgren stepped up for State instead.

“It was an easy switch. Coach Lofgren helped me out a lot. Also, Coach Clark named her baby Callaway, and the brand of golf ball I use is Callaway, so I really don’t think it was a coincidence,” Biermann said.

Biermann didn’t feel too nervous on day one of the tournament and for most of day two, but the pressure and the emotion went up once she reached the 18th hole.

“At the 18th hole, I was trying to do all the golf-related things I knew how to do. Once I finished, I was very happy and I was smiling because I knew I won,” Biermann said.

Biermann said her sister served as her major source of inspiration throughout the tournament.

“My sister Ashleigh is my inspiration,” Biermann said, “She is always cheering for me no matter what.”

Biermann also competes nationally as a high school golfer.

“I play during the summer. I play at the US Girls tournament, which is the biggest tournament in the United States for junior golf, and I also play in the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) Girls tournament, which is the second biggest tournament for junior golf. I do feel that playing in these tournaments did help me during state,” she said.

Biermann is also considered the leader of the team by her teammates and her coaches.

“We have a great leader in Brooke and some of the girls have started to realize it takes major work and dedication to accomplish the goals we have set in place for our team,” Clark said.