TORRINGTON – Going undefeated during a golf season is no small task, because a field of individuals could make a move at any moment, but Torrington’s Caleigh Essert pulled off that feat on her way to winning the girls golfer of the year award.
Most recently, Essert picked up the top spot at the state golf tournament, shooting rounds of 79 and 78. Her two-day score of 157 gave her the state title by 14 strokes over the two-time defending champion Macy Jacobson (Lander), who was the girls golfer of the year a season ago. The 4A champion, Jocelyn Olson (Kelly Walsh) scored a 164 at the tournament.
“I feel amazing. I did not know I was going to get this award,” Essert said. “I knew Macy got it last year and there was a new state champion in 4A, so I knew it was either going to her or I for this award.”
The state title was the exclamation point on the end of the season for Essert, who won every tournament she competed in this fall. Her best tournament of the season came in a school-record performance in Cheyenne, where she shot a 70 and 73 (143). During the regular season, she also carded two-day scores of 149, 152 and 154. At regionals, the junior shot a 159 to win the individual gold.
Essert has a solid resume for the Blazers as a three-time all-state and all-conference selection. Her state title this year was the first of her career, but she has her eyes set on that gold again for next year. Now she is also looking to defend her title as Wyoming’s girls golfer of the year.
“It’ll just make me want to work harder and harder for next year,” Essert said.
